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<p>The Home Office does not hold data on capacity at police laboratories and the deployment
of resources on forensic science activities is for individual forces and Police and
Crime Commissioners to determine. However, the Forensics Reform Programme Board has
oversight of strategic capacity issues. Through this Board we have assessed that there
are capacity shortfalls in some areas of forensics, including digital.</p><p>The Home
Office has invested £4.33m in 2022/23 and £3.2m for 2023/24 to the police-led Forensic
Capability Network which provides ongoing support to over 4,000 forensics professionals
by coordinating a wide range of national activities. BlueLight Commercial works with
the National Police Chief’s Council and the Forensics Capability Network to manages
forensic science contracts and other commercial functions in England and Wales.</p>
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