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30,000 Criminal Cases Collapse Over Lost Evidence Crisis

6/8/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A shocking BBC investigation uncovers that more than 30,000 criminal cases in England and Wales fell apart between October 2020 and September 2024, all due to lost or damaged evidence. Former officers blame this crisis on inadequate evidence management and budget cuts since the Forensic Science Service shut down in 2012, intensifying demands for a national forensic service.

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Story summary

A shocking BBC investigation uncovers that more than 30,000 criminal cases in England and Wales fell apart between October 2020 and September 2024, all due to lost or damaged evidence. Former officers blame this crisis on inadequate evidence management and budget cuts since the Forensic Science Service shut down in 2012, intensifying demands for a national forensic service.