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Macdonald welcomes fresh look at forensics

Aberdeen Central MSP Lewis Macdonald today welcomed the announcement by the Convener of the Scottish Police Services Authority SPSA, Vic Emery that there is to be a fresh multi-option consultation paper on the provision of forensic laboratory services to the North and North East.

Lewis Macdonald said:

'I am pleased Mr Emery has made this announcement so soon after taking up the position as Convener of the SPSA Board and I am sure today`s announcement will be welcomed by all involved in the campaign.

'The SPSA have recognised that their 'consultation' to date has not been fair or balanced.

'What matters now is that they lay out options for building on the success of the forensic laboratory in Aberdeen. We do not want to see another document which threatens to pay for a new laboratory in Dundee by closing Aberdeen.

'If Ministers say that the Dundee laboratory must be replaced, they should put up the money, not penalise Aberdeen for having fit-for-purpose facilities when Dundee does not.

'The options paper must not be about how to pay for keeping Aberdeen open; that should be a given. It should be about how to build on the success of Scotland`s best- performing forensic laboratory, in Aberdeen.'

The previous so called `consultation document` which only justified the closure of the Aberdeen laboratory was widely criticised by scientific staff, Trade Unions, MSPs of all parties, Grampian Joint Police Board and the Chief Constable.

The SPSA have announced that the new multi-option consultation document is expected to be published by the SPSA in March with a report to Scottish Ministers, who will decide whether or not to close the Aberdeen forensic laboratory later this year.