Forensic Science (Department of Applied Sciences), University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
School of Law, University of Leicester, UK.
Sci Justice. 2022 Sep;62(5):506-514. doi: 10.1016/j.scijus.2022.07.010. Epub 2022 Aug 1.
In April 2021, the Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021 received Royal Assent, providing new statutory powers for the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) of England and Wales. These powers are intended to enable the FSR to compel forensic science providers (FSPs) comply with quality standard requirements. The FSR has until now relied upon 'soft power' and arguments of benefits to be gained if FSPs achieve accreditation and adhere to the Code of Practice. Reaching the limits of persuasive powers, the FSR Act now introduces powers to penalise FSPs who remain unaccredited or fall below published standards. To gauge the potential impact, forensic scientists were asked to anticipate effects of the Act. Practitioners indicated that the new statutory powers could instil a sense of urgency among police force forensic science units in particular, in prioritising quality and investing in accreditation. However, there are significant capacity limitations which may hamper more widespread and sustainable change, such as financial pressures faced by FSPs, as well as resource constraints within the FSR role. Changing from a regulatory approach focussed upon voluntary cooperation, support and encouraging intrinsic motivations (i.e 'carrots'), for one reliant upon deterrence in the forms of threats of sanctions and punishment ('sticks'), could prevent real improvements in quality and undermine the achievement of regulatory aims. The FSR Act is unable to address problems with forensic science provision, that militate against the quality of forensic science services. Thus, benefits accrued from swapping carrots for sticks may be illusory and may ultimately prove counterproductive.
2021 年 4 月，《2021 年法医科学监管法案》获得英国皇家御准，为英格兰和威尔士的法医科学监管机构（FSR）提供了新的法定权力。这些权力旨在使 FSR 能够强制法医科学提供者（FSP）遵守质量标准要求。到目前为止，FSR 一直依赖“软实力”和如果 FSP 获得认证并遵守实践准则将获得的利益的论点。由于说服力达到极限，FSR 法案现在引入了对未获得认证或低于公布标准的 FSP 进行处罚的权力。为了评估潜在影响，法医科学家被要求预测该法案的影响。从业者表示，新的法定权力可能会特别在警察部队法医科学部门中激发一种紧迫感，优先考虑质量并投资于认证。然而，存在重大的能力限制，可能会阻碍更广泛和可持续的变革，例如 FSP 面临的财务压力，以及 FSR 角色中的资源限制。从以自愿合作、支持和鼓励内在动机（即“胡萝卜”）为重点的监管方法转变为依赖制裁和惩罚威胁（即“大棒”）的方法，可能会阻止质量的真正改善，并破坏监管目标的实现。FSR 法案无法解决法医科学供应方面的问题，这些问题不利于法医科学服务的质量。因此，用大棒代替胡萝卜所带来的好处可能是虚幻的，最终可能适得其反。
