Newly upgraded forensics lab in the East Midlands officially opened by Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry as part of East Midlands Special Operations Unit

Newly upgraded forensics laboratories providing for five police forces across the East Midlands have opened.

The labs were officially opened by Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Caroline Henry and Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable, Craig Guildford on Friday November 11.

Part of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, the forensics team works on roughly 2800 cases per year, helping to find answers for victims of crime across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire.

The refurbishment has created more space for new equipment — including a new machine that improves the ability to detect fingerprints on knives.

Labs have also been rearranged, with the improved layout allowing forensic teams can work and communicate more efficiently about exhibits and cases, speeding up processing times for police and victims of crime.

Forensic apprentice, Virginia Fletcher, said: “The lab refurbishments are just amazing, they were much needed and have made our base a much nicer place to work.

“Working with our managers, we have been able to create a culture of pride within our workspace, whilst bringing leading technology into our region that will really help with investigations.”

One piece of the new pieces of cutting-edge forensic equipment is able to better highlight fingerprints that appear on knives.

According to the ONS, a total of 48,931 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument were recorded by police forces across the UK in the year ending March 2022.

Andrew Price, director of corporate, forensic and technical services for the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: “Stories around knife crime seem to dominate the headlines on a weekly basis, so we want people in the East Midlands to feel safer knowing that we have state-of-the-art kit that can help us find prints on knives that are sent to us.

“We are committed to supporting our police forces in identifying those that carry and use knives, which can have devastating consequences for everyone involved.”

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry said: “The cutting-edge refurbishment of the Forensics Lab should assure victims of crime that we are at the forefront of technological advancements to ensure we can obtain the best evidence.

“The improvements mean that investigations can be more efficient and effective, which will lead to more convictions of criminals.

“Forensic investigations can now be taken to the next level thanks to the upgrades put into place.”