Police probe forensics lab

ALMOST 500 police cases are being reviewed after a criminal probe was launched into a forensics lab used by forces nationwide for drug and alcohol testing services.

Two men have been arrested over allegations that 484 cases handled by Randox Testing Services were affected by “data manipulation”.

Debbie Simpson, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for forensic science, said: “We have been made aware of a quality failure... which is currently being investigated, and a criminal inquiry has been launched by Greater Manchester Police.”

RTS is based in Northern Ireland with offices in London and Manchester.

A company statement yesterday said the issue “came to light as a result of an internal investigation” into “the manipulation of quality control data which supports test results” at its Manchester site, adding: “There is no evidence that either the samples or the quality control materials themselves were subject to interference.”

It said alcohol analysis of drink-drive samples is not done in Manchester.

Gtr Manchester Police said the men, aged 47 and 31, had been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and bailed until March.