The Forensic Science Service (FSS) serves the administration of justice in England and Wales by providing scientific support in the investigation of crime, and by giving evidence to courts. Its customers include the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, coroners and defense solicitors.
In February 1995 the UK government announced that the FSS would merge with the Metropolitan Police Forensic Laboratory to form a single agency serving all police forces in England and Wales through seven regional operational laboratories.
Scientific expertise is available on a case-by-case basis to law enforcement agencies and attorneys. The Service provides assistance to home and overseas police forces in the investigation of many crimes, particularly fires where arson is suspected, cases involving DNA profiling and offences involving the use of firearms. The scientists have a wide range of experience in fire scene examination, including fatal fires in domestic premises, large industrial fires and vehicle fires.
DNA profiling is a revolutionary scientific testing process which can positively identify an individual from a specimen of blood, semen, hair roots or tissue. Its application to crime specimens represents the greatest advance in forensic science in decades. The vast potential of DNA profiling is recognized by the police and legal profession, and its use in criminal investigation has increased.
The Forensic Science Service provides advice on firearms and related matters and assistance in the investigation of shooting accidents. When presented with a suspect weapon, the expert is able to establish whether or not it was the weapon used in a crime. Experts are particularly adept in the microscopic examination of spent bullets and cartridge cases. They have access to a world-famous computer-based information systems relating to thousands of firearms.
DECEIT AND DEFAMATION
Deceit is a misrepresentation that interferes with a person’s interests. An individual is liable for deceit when he deliberately cheats another person of property or some other interest by misstating or omitting relevant facts. The following elements must be present in a law suit brought to recover damages for deceit:
· The defendant must make a false statement.
· The defendant must know it is false.
· It must be made with the intention of inducing the victim to act or refrain from acting.
· The victim must justifiably rely on the defendant’s misrepresentation in acting or in refraining from acting.
· The victim must suffer damages as a result of his reliance.
To illustrate this tort, suppose Jones, purporting to be an insurance salesman, calls on Smith and seeks to sell him fire insurance on his new house. Jones tells Smith that he can write a valid binder, insuring the house against loss by fire. Jones deliberately makes this statement in the hope of defrauding Smith of some “premium” payments. Not having any reason to be suspicious, Smith relies on Jones’s statement and writes him a check for the first “premium”. Thereafter, fire destroys Smith’s house and he has no insurance. Smith could recover from Jones for damages he incurred due to Jones’s deceit.
A person has been defamed when a communication is made to others which tends to expose him to public hatred, shame, ostracism, ridicule, or which causes him to be avoided or shunned. There are two forms of defamatory communication: libel, or written communications, and slander, which is an oral statement.
Any time a defamatory communication is printed, the victim usually can recover without proving any particular personal injury. The existence of damages is presumed from the publication of the libel. By the same reasoning, slander results any time a defamatory communication is made orally.
