UK Politics and Bad Science: Investigating the Graveyard Spiral of Forensic Science in England and Wales

Is Britain still a world leader in forensic science or are we sleepwalking into a criminal justice crisis?

 

Once considered the gold standard, the UK’s forensic science system is not working well for anyone – not for the police, not for the suppliers of services, not for the courts and, by extension, not for the public.  Yet we all believe it to be a critical tool that we can rely upon to bring the guilty to justice and exonerate the innocent.

 

Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC are joined by two of the UK’s most respected forensic science experts - Baroness Sue Black and Dr Angela Gallop CBE - to investigate the breakdown of forensic science in England and Wales and what it means for justice. The guests explain how these changes have led to miscarriages of justice, undermining trust in both science and the legal system.

 

As co-chairs of the Westminster Commission on Forensic Science, Sue and Angela outline urgent recommendations: create a National Forensic Science Institute, invest in independent research, and reform the funding of the defence to ensure equality of arms in the courtroom. This is a powerful and timely discussion that cuts to the heart of British politics, UK law, and the fight to uphold the rule of law.

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Covering the critical intersections of law and politics in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain’s legal and political future.

What happens when law and politics collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain’s legal and political system?

Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays.

Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights.

Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law.

Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades. 

Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape.

If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you’ll love Double Jeopardy.