Collection

Forensic Science Regulator guidance

This series brings together all documents relating to forensic science.

• From: Forensic Science Regulator
• Published: 7 February 2023
• Last updated: 17 May 2024 — See all updates

This collection brings together documents that provide guidance to anyone who performs forensic science activities (also known as FSAs).

Some of these documents were published before the Forensic Science Regulator received statutory powers in July 2022. We are reviewing these documents and will replace them as the statutory regulator adopts them.  In the meantime, all documents on this page remain valid.

Previous documents can be found on The National Archives.

Guidance documents

• Bloodstain pattern analysis: codes of practice (FSR-C-102)
  • 22 July 2024
  • Guidance
• Expert report content: issue 4 (FSR-G-200)
  • 22 July 2024
  • Guidance
• Forensic science providers: validation (FSR-G-201)
  • 22 July 2024
  • Guidance
• Allele frequency databases and reporting for DNA profiling (FSR-G-213)
  • 22 July 2024
  • Guidance
• Method validation in digital forensics (FSR-G-218)
  • 22 July 2024
  • Guidance
• DNA mixture interpretation (FSR-G-222)
  • 22 July 2024
  • Guidance
• Software validation for DNA mixture interpretation (FSR-G-223)
  • 22 July 2024
  • Guidance
• Proficiency testing guidance: DNA mixture analysis and interpretation (FSR-G-224)
  • 22 July 2024
  • Guidance
• Non-expert technical statements: issue 2 (FSR-G-225)
  • 22 July 2024
  • Guidance
• DNA relationship testing using autosomal short tandem repeats (FSR-G-228)
  • 22 July 2024
  • Guidance
• Declaring compliance with the code of practice (FSR-GUI-0001)
  • 27 August 2024
  • Guidance
• Y-STR profiling (FSR-GUI-0013)
  • 25 August 2023
  • Guidance
• Methods employing rapid DNA devices (FSR-GUI-0015)
  • 29 August 2023
  • Guidance
• Crime scene DNA: anti-contamination (FSR-GUI-0016)
  • 24 October 2023
  • Guidance
• DNA contamination controls: forensic medical examinations (FSR-GUI-0017)
  • 23 January 2024
  • Guidance
• DNA contamination controls: laboratory (FSR-GUI-0018)
  • 26 October 2023
  • Guidance
• Forensic medical examination of sexual offence complainants (FSR-GUI-0020)
  • 22 July 2024
  • Guidance
• Firearms urgent classification process (non-accreditation) (FSR-GUI-0027)
  • 15 August 2023
  • Guidance
• Legal obligations: issue 8 (FSR-I-400)
  • 22 July 2024
  • Guidance
• Protocol: using casework material for validation purposes (FSR-P-300)
  • 22 July 2024
  • Guidance
• DNA contamination detection (FSR-P-302)
  • 22 July 2024
  • Guidance

Published 7 February 2023
Last updated 17 May 2024 + show all updates

1. 17 May 2024

   Added DNA contamination controls: forensic medical examinations.

2. 15 February 2024

   Forensic Science Regulator’s notifications moved to separate collection page.

3. 19 January 2024

   Added 'Forensic medical examination of sexual offence complainants', which has replaced 'FSR-G-212: guidance for the assessment, collection and recording of forensic science related evidence in sexual assault examinations'.

4. 19 December 2023

   Added regulator’s notification 02-2023: the status of the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners (CRFP) register.

5. 26 October 2023

   Added the document DNA contamination controls: laboratory.

6. 27 September 2023

   Added new category 'Forensic Science Regulator’s notifications' to page.

7. 21 September 2023

   Updated page to clarify that documents issued by the non-statutory regulator remain valid.

8. 6 September 2023

   Firearms urgent classification process (non-accreditation) has been added to this collection.

9. 31 August 2023

   Added guidance on declaring compliance with the code of practice.

10. 7 February 2023

    First published.