Requests to Forensic Centre increase by leaps and bounds

Thousands are awaiting justice — some in the prisons — while the Forensic Science Centre, a crucial link in determining innocence or guilt, struggles to deal with a backlog of 3,451 requests from the police and the prosecution. Minister of National Security Martin Joseph revealed these statistics while answering questions in the Senate filed by Independent Senator Dana Seetahal. He attributed the large backlog to a combination of  increase in the number of exhibits — especially in the case of firearms and drugs and the lack of manpower at the Forensic Science Centre. Joseph said between 2002 and 2004 there was a 66 percent increase in the requests for analyses and reports for drug-related matters, while there was an 89 percent increase in requests for analyses and reports in the area of firearms.

In fact, these two areas accounted for 74 percent of the outstanding requests, he said. There was a backlog of 1,343 requests for analyses and reports on firearms while there were 1,004 outstanding requests for analyses and reports for drug-related matters, he said. Joseph said there were 116 requests for analyses and reports for homicide cases. Some of these requests date back to 1994, he said, adding that there were eight outstanding requests from the period 1994 to 1998. There were ten outstanding requests from 2001; seven from 2002; 14 from 2003 and 65 from 2004. In the area of toxicology, there were 127 outstanding requests, 16 dating back to 2000; 25 dating back to 2001; 22 from 2002; 23 from 2003 and 41 from 2004.  In the area of firearms, there were 1,343 outstanding requests, 16 from 2000, 72 from 2001, 360 from 2002, 381 from 2003 and 514 from 2004.

In the area of documents, there were 475 outstanding requests for analyses and reports with 374 requests outstanding for the 1994 - 1999 period, 22 from 2000, 17 from 2001, nine from 2002, 27 from 2003 and 25 from 2004. In narcotics there were 1,004, 18 from 2000, 41 from 2001, 18 from 2002, 186 from 2003, 741 from 2004. In the area of arson, there were 84 outstanding requests, 12 from 2000, six from 2001, 22 from 2002, 20 from 2003 and 24 from 2004. Joseph disclosed that between 2000 and 2003 there was a 109 percent increase in the number of requests to the centre, which went from 7,555 in 2000 to 15,832 in 2003.

In response to another question, the minister said he was advised by the Police Commissioner that no court matters were dismissed in 2002, 2003, 2004 because of delays by the Forensic Science Centre. Joseph also revealed that Government had ordered four new machines for the Centre — a genetic analyser for use in DNA analysis; gas chromatograph — mass spectrometre for use in analysis of narcotics; an X-rayable body tray for use in the pathology section and a stereozoom microsystem for firearms. He said Government had also created 24 additional positions. He said $900,000 had been allocated in 2005 for equipment and $3 million for the extension and modification of the Centre.