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Regulator's Notification 07-2024:
Suspected Data Manipulation at Randox
Testing Services and Trimega Laboratories
Notification on the Forensic Science Regulator’s press release following Greater Manchester
Police’s statement of 29 November 2024 concerning suspected data manipulation at Randox
Testing Services and Trimega Laboratories.
n 2017 the Regulator was made aware of suspected
data manipulation at Randox Testing Services and
subsequently, Trimega Laboratories. This data integrity issue affected forensic toxicology testing, including s5A drug driving, and more than 10,000 test
results from these laboratories. A criminal investigation was undertaken by Greater Manchester Police
and on 29th November 2024, Greater Manchester Police released a statement saying that they will be taking
no further action against the seven suspects involved
due to an ‘unprecedented mass of materials’ and lack
of funding to analyse them.
outlining the next steps from a regulatory perspective
on this matter.
“The Regulator has been informed by Greater
Manchester Police that no further action will be taken
against seven suspects who were the subject of an investigation into data manipulation in forensic toxicology analysis conducted by Randox Testing Services
and Trimega Laboratories Ltd prior to 2017. The Regulator was made aware of this data manipulation when
the investigation commenced and took action to ensure that there were appropriate safeguards in respect
of the integrity of forensic toxicology analysis in forensic providers who undertake this type of work. At the
time this investigation was initiated the Regulator did
not have statutory powers to undertake investigations
or take enforcement action, these were introduced in
July 2022 through the Forensic Science Regulator Act
2021. The Regulator is working closely with Greater
Manchester Police to gain access to all relevant information so that lessons can be learned from this investigation, appropriate regulatory action taken and if
necessary amendments made to the Code of Practice.”
Following the incident in 2017, the Regulator undertook an integrity check with the providers of forensic
toxicology testing at the time and awaited the outcome
of Greater Manchester Police’s investigation. Actions
and Outcomes Following Greater Manchester Police’s
announcement on Friday 29th November 2024 that
they would not be pursuing criminal convictions
against individuals suspected of manipulating data at
Randox Testing Services and Trimega Laboratories,
the Regulator has released the following statement,
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