Rape cases reviewed over ‘faulty forensics’

MORE than 20 rape and sexual assault investigations are under review after a Scotland Yard scientist allegedly botched forensic examinations.

Thirty-three criminal investigations – including 21 sex attack inquiries – are being urgently looked at due to suspected ‘mishandling’ of items.

An in-house forensic scientist is accused of failing to complete tests and lying to investigators about how their work was progressing over a five-year period.

The force faced questions last night about why it took so long to reveal there was a problem, after it emerged the scientist was suspended on March 26. The problems arose during an annual performance review.

Dozens of cases between 2012 and 2017 are affected, including violent and drugrelated crimes and burglaries.

The inquiry will raise fresh questions about the safety of forensic tests. Around 10,000 criminal cases across England and Wales are already being reviewed after staff were alleged to have tampered with data at a forensics lab in Manchester, causing the biggest recall of samples in British criminal justice history.

The Forensic Science Regulator has warned falling standards are increasing the risk of miscarriages of justice.

Scotland Yard said the Directorate of Professional Standards is investigating, adding: ‘We are urgently conducting a review to understand whether there is any risk to the criminal justice process and to take remedial action where necessary. All victims in the affected cases have been contacted, where it has been deemed appropriate.’