Question

The ‘forensic science’ service of an European country has traditionally been organized to provide separate forensic science laboratories for each police force around the country. In order to save costs, the government has decided to centralize this service in one large central facility close to the country’s capital.

What do you think are the external advantages and disadvantages of this to the stakeholders of the operation?

Answer 1

Centralizing forensic science services can result in cost savings and better-standardized practices but may also lead to delays, limited access for local law enforcement, and job disruption for existing employees.

Step-by-step explanation:

The centralization of forensic science services to a large facility near a capital city can offer both advantages and disadvantages to stakeholders.

Advantages:

• Centralization can lead to significant cost savings for the government.
• A centralized laboratory may have more advanced equipment and technology, leading to potentially higher-quality and more consistent analysis.
• There could be better standardization of practices and protocols, which is important for legal consistency and quality control.

Disadvantages:

• Transportation of evidence over longer distances could introduce delays or risks to the chain of custody.
• Local law enforcement might face reduced access to laboratory services and slower turnaround times.
• The centralization may result in a loss of jobs or require relocation for current laboratory employees.