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Versions of this story also appeared in the following papers: • National Post, Page A9 - Forensics 'mismanaged' • Ottawa Citizen, Page A3 - Ex-officers claim RCMP mismanaged its forensic services • Vancouver Sun, Page 7 - RCMP mismanagement blamed for backlog in DNA cases PUBLICATION: The Leader-Post (Regina) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Officers say RCMP to blame for backlog -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OTTAWA -- The RCMP has mismanaged its forensic services, creating a backlog of more than 950 DNA cases while straining other resources, two retired forensic officers said Tuesday at a parliamentary committee meeting. Appearing before the Commons justice committee, the former officers, Gary Mcleod and David Hepworth, said the RCMP wastes money through an inefficient forensics system that in February had 959 cases still pending, with the average case turnaround time about 85 days too long. "What we need to have is a national strategy," said Hepworth, a police officer since 1962 and a forensics investigator for 30 years. The men requested to appear before the committee to improve forensics at the RCMP, which despite increasing its resources and staff in a 2000 reorganization, has since created a backlog of DNA case that has increased year-by-year, they say. "I realized there was a crisis on our hands and wanted to do something about it," Hepworth said. The justice committee continued on Tuesday its study of a bill that would increase protection for children, especially from sexual predators. The proposed legislation would expand police use of DNA evidence on crime scenes, including break-and-enters, which will further strain the system, they said. "Given the large number of break-and-enter cases law-enforcement agencies investigate in any given year, the laboratory service could find itself swamped with high levels of requests for service," says their written submission to the committee. Hepworth said investments in forensic services enriches a cost-effective crime-solving tool. DNA evidence is often irrefutable evidence and, if processed quickly, lifts strain on other investigative sections of the police, Hepworth added. Canadians pay between $1,400 and $4,500 per year on police services, says their report, which could be reduced. Although the average forensic process time is 115 days, the RCMP's standard for non-urgent DNA cases is 30 days, assistant commissioner of forensic lab services Joe Buckle said in an interview. The 30-day standard was chosen simply because the police had to produce a number in the early 1990s, he said. There is no problem with the current number of files to be processed, he said, adding the RCMP prioritizes its urgent cases, all of which are processed within a 15-day standard. The backlog is full of non-urgent cases, Buckle said. He acknowledged, however, only urgent cases are done quickly. "I don't have enough resources to move any case to the front of the cue," he said. Conservative MP Garry Breitkreuz, vice-chair of the committee, issued a statement Tuesday calling into question the testimony of two senior RCMP officers, who appeared before the committee in March, and said there was no serious backlog. Canada should look to Britain, a leader in forensic science, said Hepworth and Mcleod, where response times are closely scrutinized. In 2003, an average case turnaround time of 35 days was called inadequate, says their report. The men said information from former colleagues in the RCMP and access to information requests helped write their report. The Auditor General's report of 2000 said the work of the RCMP's forensic labs was inefficient and needed better response times. ------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS RELEASE - May 3, 2005 COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE - Le 3 mai 2005
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