SPSA Forensic Services

Edinburgh  

In 1975, Lothian and Borders Police Identification Branch expanded to include a Forensic Science Laboratory. At this time the Branch provided services such as scene examination, photography, handwriting, ballistics, tool/shoemarks, chemistry and biology.  Fingerprint services were carried out by members of the forces Identification Branch, who completed five years training to become fingerprint experts. These officers were dual role officer's i.e. they were trained in fingerprints and other skills such as scene examination, handwriting or ballistics.

In 1981 the Lab took over the Toxicology service from Edinburgh University and in 1986, became a branch of CID.

By 1992, the number of lab staff and level of caseload was significant and funding was secured for the first new standalone Laboratory in Scotland, which was completed for April 1994.  

In 2001 the Identification Branch was split into two distinct sections a Scene of Examination Section and a Fingerprint Bureau. This was the birth of the Scottish Fingerprint Service (SFS) Edinburgh Bureau. At this time it shared offices and senior police management with the Identification Branch. In 2004 the bureau started to obtain its independence with the employment of a non fingerprint trained civilian bureau manager.

In 2003, the Identification Branch and Laboratory became the Forensic Science Support Department under a single line management.

In 2007, following the establishment of the Scottish Police Services Authority and the subsequent creation of the Forensic Services business area, the Identification Branch and the Laboratory merged with the Edinburgh Bureau of the SFS to form the Edinburgh Branch of the SPSA Forensic Services. 

Today, approximately 100 staff examine over 9000 scenes of crime, produce over 5000 scene productions and another 2000 digital scene of crime (SOC) images, deliver 5000 forensic science cases (general biology, DNA, general chemistry, drugs and toxicology). It has the only police forensic toxicology facility in the UK, providing a criminal tox service to all Scottish police forces and morbid tox analysis for Lothian and Borders police force.