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Orchid Cellmark, one of the UK’s largest forensic service providers,
has been awarded an exclusive contract to provide the Kent and Sussex Police
forces with DNA testing for their PACE(1) and Crime Scene Stain(2)
profiling services. The three-year contract, with options to extend for
a further two years, was awarded after a competitive tendering process and
is estimated to be worth approximately £2m per year. This contract,
and the award of a five-year DNA contract with the City of London Police,
follows the company’s recent initiative to provide its services directly
to UK Police forces.
Orchid Cellmark has established it position as one of the UK’s leading
providers of specialist DNA analysis services over the last two decades.
David Hartshorne, Commercial Director said: “We have a long history
of successfully providing forensic DNA analysis services to police forces
throughout Britain, but this is among the first contracts that we have been
awarded under the Cellmark Forensic Services name. We are delighted with
the award of this contract and look forward to providing both forces with
the exceptional levels of quality and service that we are committed to providing
to our existing customers.”
Based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, Orchid Cellmark operates some of the most
advanced DNA laboratories in the world and employs more than 200 specialist
staff. Orchid Cellmark provides a full range of forensic DNA services ranging
from the routine testing of DNA samples for submission to the UK National
DNA Database®, to the collection and analysis of evidence for the investigation
of the most serious crimes.
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(1) PACE Samples
PACE samples are mouth swabs taken under the Police and Criminal Evidence
Act 1984 from suspects who have been arrested for a “recordable”
offence. DNA profiles generated from these samples are added to the UK National
DNA Database.
(2) Crime Scene Stain service
The Crime Scene Stain service provided to Kent and Sussex police forces
involves the DNA analysis of items recovered from ‘high volume’
crimes such as burglary and car theft. There are usually no suspects and
any resulting profiles are submitted to the UK National DNA Database for
intelligence purposes. The shorter the time interval between the offence
date and provision of intelligence from the UK National DNA Database the
greater the chance of police recovering property belonging to the complainant
for offences such as burglary.
About Orchid Cellmark
Cellmark Forensic Services is a registered name of Orchid Cellmark Ltd,
part of Orchid Cellmark Inc, a leading International provider of DNA testing
services for human identity testing and agricultural applications. In the
human identity area, the company provides DNA testing services for forensic
investigation, paternity testing and family relationship analysis, and security
applications. In the agriculture field, Orchid Cellmark provides DNA testing
services for selective trait breeding. Orchid Cellmark’s strong market
positions in these segments reflect the company’s accredited laboratories
in the U.S. and U.K., its innovative genetic analysis technologies and expertise,
and the world-renowned Cellmark brand that has been associated with exceptional
quality, reliability and customer service for nearly two decades. More information
on Orchid Cellmark Ltd can be found at www.orchidcellmark.co.uk.
More information on Orchid Cellmark Inc. can be found at www.orchid.com
More information on the Kent and Sussex Police can be found at www.kent.police.uk
and www.sussex.police.uk
National DNA Database
The National DNA Database® is a registered trademark of the Home Office.
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