Forensics lab test tampering probe identifies 10,000 criminal cases that might have been affected

Around 50 suspected drug drivers have walked free after police admitted 10,000 forensic blood samples may have been manipulated by rogue scientists.

The motorists had been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, including mind altering Class A narcotics, such as cocaine and ecstasy.

The prosecutions hinged on blood samples taken from the suspects which would have shown the amount of drugs in the system.

But the cases had to be thrown out after it emerged that the samples were among thousands that could have been manipulated by a massive breach at a forensics laboratory in Manchester.

In addition two cases involving motorists convicted of causing deaths while drug driving have been referred to the Court of Appeal.  

When the breach was discovered earlier this year, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said it feared almost 500 criminal cases could be affected.

But they have now conceded the figure was nearer 10,000, including 1,000 sex offences, 275 murders and 700 offences involving violence.

Two former workers at the Randox Testing Services (RTS) laboratory in Manchester have been arrested and five others questioned under caution in connection with the alleged tampering.

Forensic scientists are currently working around the clock to re-test all the affected samples, but it could be many months before all the work has been completed.

Of the cases that have been re-examined so far, no homicides, sex or violent offences have been discontinued or referred to the Court of Appeal.

But Deputy Chief Constable James Vaughan, the NPCC lead on forensics, said around 50 drug driving cases that had been due to go to trial had been dropped.

Two cases involving road deaths, one in Hampshire and one in Greater Manchester, have also been referred to the Court of Appeal, amid concern that the convictions could be unsafe.

The alleged manipulation of forensic tests emerged earlier this year when a data anomaly in a drug driving case was reported to Randox.

The NPCC said retesting was either complete or under way for around 70 per cent of the highest priority cases, with the rest expected to be completed by mid-2018.

Mr Vaughan said: "This is of grave concern to me, it is of great concern to policing and out partners in criminal justice and we are taking it extremely seriously and provided a nationally co-ordinated and very swift, robust response, to understand more detail.

"Forensic science in criminal justice is paramount and vital to confidence in the criminal justice system."

Potential data manipulation at a separate facility, Trimega Laboratories, is also being investigated by Greater Manchester Police.

Trimega carried out testing for cases heard in the civil courts and it is feared any tampering of the data could affect child protection and family court cases.

Policing Minister, Nick Hurd said poor record keeping meant it was not possible to identify how many cases could have been affected.

In a written ministerial statement, Mr Hurd said: "The Government recognises the seriousness of this issue and the potential impact on public confidence in the use of forensic science within the justice system."