Forensic review of sexual assault cases ordered after poor practice concerns

Home Office regulator's examination of forensic strategy comes as scientists warn criminal justice in the UK could be compromised

The forensic science regulator is reviewing a series of sexual assault cases to examine whether poor evidence gathering at crime scenes may be compromising criminal justice in the UK, she has told the Guardian.

Dr Gill Tully, whose remit is to establish quality standards in forensic science and ensure compliance with them, said her review was prompted by a number of cases where she had been told that "the scientific opportunities don't appear to have been maximised". These included examples where scientific analysis was not carried out at all, she said.