La Corbiniere. Photo credit: www.govt.lc.
The sudden closure of the forensic lab at Tapion has been met with several criticisms, but government is currently working to have it re-opened under new management soon.
Minister of National Security Victor Lacobiniere has said Cabinet has taken some decisions with regards to the forensic lab, one of which is to allow an independent entity to run the operations.
“We are working towards starting a fairly detailed approach to operationalising the forensic lab within the next month,” Lacobiniere disclosed on Tuesday, November 17.
While this is happening, the minister said that the police are sending DNA and other samples for testing overseas. According to him, one batch of about 40 cases were dispatched early this week.
The closure of the forensic lab has however affected the ability of the Police Force to move forward with a number of serious crimes, according to senior police officials.
The lab was reportedly short on material to conduct forensic tests, which initially caused operations to slow down at the facility. It was later shut down and remains closed for the past six months.
The government had initially said that the closure would last for one week. Nothing has ever been said about the closure, except reports of plans to conduct an audit of the facility.
It currently has six units – a Chemistry Unit, Toxicology Unit, Biology Unit, Trace Evidence Unit, DNA Testing Unit and Crime Scene Support & Training.
The facility which cost government $6 million to build has been plagued by controversy since its opening in 2009.
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