FSR Act 2021
Definition
The Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021 (England and Wales), which gave the Forensic Science Regulator statutory powers to require compliance with its Codes of Practice and Conduct, including mandatory UKAS accreditation for providers of forensic science services in criminal proceedings.
- Jurisdiction
- England and Wales
- Full name
- Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021
- Grants
- Statutory power to enforce FSR Codes of Practice
- Key requirement
- Mandatory UKAS accreditation for providers
Common questions
What changed for forensic providers once the FSR Act 2021 came into force?+
Before the Act, the Forensic Science Regulator's codes were guidance without direct legal teeth. The Act gave the Regulator power to compel compliance, including issuing compliance notices and referring persistent non-compliance, converting UKAS accreditation from best practice into a statutory expectation for criminal-justice forensic work.
Does the FSR Act 2021 cover forensic science providers outside England and Wales?+
No, its statutory powers apply specifically within England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate forensic governance arrangements, and providers supplying services only to other jurisdictions fall outside this Act's direct enforcement reach.
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