Tasmania's crime scene forensics technology is being boosted by a major $3.7 million upgrade, including new DNA identification and toxicology analysis capability.
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Felix Ellis, said the Rockliff Liberal Government is delivering the new equipment to support victims and bring criminals to justice.
"This new equipment provides Tasmania Police with critical forensic science evidence for violent crimes, drug offences, road crashes and coronial matters," Minister Ellis said.
"The $3.7 million investment in Forensic Science Services Tasmania has provided our scientists with new, state-of-the-art technology, ensuring quality evidence to bring criminals to justice."
Minister Ellis said having contemporary instruments assist scientists to accurately test exhibits, with improved sensitivity.
He said the funding also allowed Forensic Science Services Tasmania (FSST) to increase its evidence storage capacity for sexual assault evidence and other samples.
"Having more storage for evidence means victim-survivors can have forensic samples taken with the knowledge that the evidence will be kept securely until they feel ready to report to police," Minister Ellis said.
"This is important because a victim-survivor may not be ready to report at the time of the incident. The samples are kept indefinitely so they can make a report when and if they choose to."
FSST receives more than 22,400 requests annually for scientific analysis including:
- approximately 6,500 requests for biological examination;
- approximately 350 criminalistics requests;
- more than 9,700 DNA tasks;
- nearly 600 illicit drug cases; and
- around 5,200 toxicology matters.
The Rockliff Liberal Government is delivering on our commitments to support victim-survivors of crime and to hold offenders to account through improved equipment, processes, and services.
