Improvements made since 2006 include:
- introducing the non-numeric standard fingerprint system used in England and Wales to strengthen the role of fingerprint officers as expert court witnesses;
- improving the working environment and culture within fingerprints and reducing staff absenteeism by around 113 days a year, and;
- establishing annual external competence reviews and control systems to ensure the highest standards of quality are maintained.
Launched in 2006, the Action Plan for Excellence was to take stock of the positive progress fingerprint services had made in recent years and consider what further action was needed to ensure its seamless integration with the new SPSA Forensic Services - an objective successfully achieved in April 2007.
Three leading international fingerprint experts from London, the USA, and the Netherlands, along with two leading HR specialists from international corporations, agreed to assist in developing and implementing the Action Plan for Excellence.
Tom Nelson, Director, SPSA Forensic Services said:
"For the first time ever in the UK we in Scotland can demonstrate a ‘one stop shop' forensic service that goes from crime scene to court, a truly end to end process which has never been done before.
"This has given us a unique opportunity to define the shape of our organisation - driving forward both science and service enhancements. We have been able to develop a truly national service - generating best practice and ensuring consistency in our processes and procedures.
"Our fingerprint service in Scotland today is part of that and has changed dramatically since the time of the McKie case.
"I am confident that we have a national fingerprint service operating to internationally-recognised standards, however I am by no means complacent. I am committed to a programme of continuous improvement for Forensic Services, where we will work to share and incorporate best practice from around the world and establish Scotland as a world class leader in forensic evidence."
Other objectives achieved include:
- IDENT1, an automated fingerprint system, has been introduced across Scotland and represents the amalgamation of finger and, for the first time, palm print data into a single database for the UK mainland.
- Scientific Advisory Groups (SAG) have been established for each forensic discipline. These groups are run by specialists who are driving the use of best practice and cross discipline working. One major success has been the Fingerprint and Drugs SAGs working together to secure best evidence and has resulted in the identification of those involved in the distribution of drugs into our communities.
- An independent staff ‘Safeline' has been introduced, enabling staff to seek advice or report concerns.
- A new management structure has been introduced, providing visible leadership together with technical forensic experience at every level in the organisation.
- A comprehensive review of demand for fingerprint services versus resource levels has been completed leading to the subsequent introduction of a monthly monitoring programme to effectively manage resources.
- A robust approach to attendance management is being deployed, incorporating input from occupational health practitioners and HR specialists to ensure appropriate support is provided to managers and staff. As a result the monthly absence rate has dropped from 12% to 6%.
- Annual competence reviews, conducted by an independent provider, have been maintained for all practising fingerprint experts in SPSA Forensic Services. In addition to this a random sampling approach has been adopted to assure the quality of work being carried out by each expert during the course of each year.
- As well as individual testing and assurance measures the fingerprint verification process has been underpinned with the introduction of new procedures that have been reviewed by the external experts.
Bruce Grant, Head of Counter Terrorism Forensic Services, Metropolitan Police said:
"It was clear from the beginning of the programme in 2006 that all the Stakeholders, led by David Mulhern, were determined, despite facing heavy turbulence and a myriad of thorny issues to overcome, to take the Scottish Fingerprint Service forward and make it world class.
"I was struck by the infectious enthusiasm and commitment of all the participants and, in particular, by the officers of the Scottish fingerprint units themselves who demonstrated a willingness to listen and learn from other organisations and a readiness to embrace and drive change in order to improve.
"I know that I speak on behalf of my colleagues when I say that we have been astonished, delighted and somewhat envious by the significant progress which has been achieved in a relatively short period of time through excellent leadership, professionalism, skill, hard work and a determination to improve."
Arie Zeelenberg, Senior Fingerprint Adviser, Dutch National Police:
"I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the efforts made by the SPSA and the management and staff of the fingerprint department both. I am impressed by it and I acknowledge the progress that has been made.
"At the same time I am of the opinion that through the choice not to investigate the mistaken identification and its causes in the McKie case, important opportunities are missed to learn from it.
"Insight would be the best driver for cultural change. In my view the choice to block access to the case for the staff is in conflict with the ambition of transparency and accountability. Full closure, which is also important for the international fingerprint community, is therefore not achieved and I regret this."
Danny Greathouse, Department of Homeland Security, United States of America said:
"The efforts of the SPSA to take on the issues and to begin the steps to meet their goal of establishing a world class fingerprint organisation are certainly noteworthy. Theirs is not an easy task. Changing the culture of an organisation is not without difficulty and it does not happen quickly. I believe they are on the right path and urge them to continue with the dedication and enthusiasm with which they have started this journey. There is much to be gained from their efforts.
"Many in the worldwide fingerprint community are following this matter with great interest. The willingness of David Mulhern and others to seek the best practices and the experiences of other organisations will be a key part in achieving their goal."