Our services
Specialist forensic expertise, applied where it matters
Forensic Access provides independent forensic expertise to support criminal investigations and proceedings. Our services are instructed where forensic evidence is central to the issues in dispute, or where its interpretation requires careful scientific evaluation.
We work across a range of forensic disciplines, applying specialist expertise to the evidential questions raised in each case.
Our areas of expertise
Our forensic services are organised into specialist areas reflecting the types of scientific issues we are instructed to address. These services support the interpretation, review and presentation of forensic evidence within criminal cases.
Select an area below to explore our expertise in more detail.
Biology
At Forensic Access, our experts work across the full forensic biology continuum, from crime scene examination and body fluid identification through to DNA interpretation and blood pattern analysis. We are routinely instructed to review evidence, advise on investigative strategy, and provide independent expert opinion where the interpretation of biological evidence is contested or complex.
Chemistry & Trace Evidence
Forensic chemistry and trace evidence analysis involve the scientific examination of a wide range of materials that may transfer between people, objects and locations during the commission of an offence. These materials include glass, paint, fibres, footwear impressions and other microscopic traces, all of which can be critical to establishing associations, exclusions or the sequence of events.
Digital Forensics
Digital evidence is increasingly central to investigations and litigation across criminal, civil and regulatory matters. Data from computers, mobile devices, networks, CCTV systems, audio recordings and telecommunication call data records can contain vital information about events, intent, communication and behaviour.
Document Examination & Handwriting Analysis
Forensic document examination is the scientific study of questioned documents and handwriting to assist in resolving disputed issues in legal cases. It encompasses the analysis of handwriting, signatures, typed or printed text, alterations, obliterations, paper and ink characteristics, and other features to address questions about authorship, authenticity, sequence of entries and integrity of documents.
Fire Investigation & Explosive Materials
Fire and explosion investigations involve the scientific examination of scenes, materials and outcomes to understand how fire or an explosion started, developed and potentially caused damage or harm. This evidence can be central to disputes over causation, liability, sequence of events and safety compliance in criminal, regulatory and civil cases.
Firearms & Ballistics Examination
At Forensic Access, our firearms experts provide independent, impartial opinion across all aspects of firearms and ballistic evidence. They are instructed to review evidence, reconstruct events involving the discharge of a weapon, and advise on complex technical issues where the interpretation of firearms evidence is contested or critical to the case.
Fingerprint Evidence & Expert Analysis
Fingerprint evidence remains a key forensic discipline and can play a decisive role in criminal investigations when properly recovered, compared and interpreted. The evidential value of fingerprint marks depends not only on their presence, but on the quality of recovery and the robustness of expert interpretation.
Forensic Cold Case Review
Cold case review is a specialist forensic service involving the re-examination of evidence from unsolved or historically closed investigations. Such reviews typically require a fresh, independent scientific perspective to assess whether new insights, methodologies or lines of enquiry might assist in resolving outstanding issues.
Forensic Drug Evidence
At Forensic Access, our forensic drug experts provide independent, impartial evaluation and expert opinion on drug evidence in cases where the conclusions reached by laboratories or investigators may be contested, multidimensional or pivotal to the case. Our specialists ensure that analytical findings are properly understood and interpreted within a legal and scientific context that is suitable for court.
Forensic Niche Services
Forensic Access offers a range of specialist niche forensic services that fall outside traditional discipline boundaries but are nonetheless critical in complex investigations and legal cases. These services can provide additional scientific insight where unique or highly specialised evidence requires independent evaluation.
Forensic Pathology & Injury Causation
Forensic pathology focuses on understanding injury and death through scientific examination of the body and related evidence. Injury causation, as part of this work, involves evaluating what caused a particular injury, how it was sustained and whether it is consistent with the case circumstances.
Forensic Psychiatry
Psychiatric evidence is often central to legal questions about mental state, capacity, responsibility, risk and behaviour. Forensic psychiatry applies clinical expertise to the medico-legal context, assisting courts, tribunals and legal teams to understand complex psychological and psychiatric issues and their relevance to case facts.
Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychological evidence involves the scientific assessment of behaviour, cognition, and emotional functioning in the context of legal questions. It is particularly relevant where psychological factors may influence behaviour, perception, memory, risk, intent, capacity or decision-making in cases before the courts.
Forensic Toxicology
Forensic toxicology involves the detection, identification and interpretation of drugs, alcohol and other chemical substances in biological specimens. Toxicological evidence is frequently encountered in criminal, family and civil cases where impairment, ingestion, exposure or substance effect is relevant to the issues in dispute.
Human Remains Recovery & Identification
Our Human Identification Recovery team brings together experienced forensic archaeologists and anthropologists who play a critical role in the identification and recovery of human remains from a broad spectrum of diverse and challenging cases.
Medical & Neurology Services
Medical evidence often plays a central role in legal cases where injury, capacity, cognitive function or specialist clinical findings are contested or pivotal to the issues in dispute. These matters frequently require expert interpretation across a broad spectrum of medical disciplines, including the brain and nervous system.
Road Traffic Collisions
Analysis of road traffic collisions often involves complex reconstruction, interpretation of physical evidence and understanding of human factors. This evidence can be central to disputes over liability, causation, sequence of events and contributory factors in criminal, civil and regulatory cases.
Discuss a forensic instruction
If you would like to discuss forensic input for a current or upcoming case, our team is available to help.
Professional memberships
Our ecology-related services are supported by specialists who hold membership of respected professional bodies, including the Royal Anthropological Institute and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists.
These memberships reflect the depth of expertise within our network and our commitment to maintaining high standards of professional practice in the interpretation and assessment of environmental, archaeological and specialist evidence.
What Our Customers Say
“Thank you for your work in relation to the joint report, the whole team is very grateful. Thank you so much for your help and please pass on our thanks to your firearms expert.”
"I am consistently impressed by the quality of expert reports I receive through Forensic Access. Whether in toxicology, psychiatric reports or traffic reconstruction, the level of experience of the experts is consistently strong. We can be confident in their ability to give evidence in court if / when required."
"Forensic Access provided an excellent service with regards to our enquiry, which was impressive and very appreciated. The casework manager for our case was very professional and courteous."
"I have used Forensic Access for many years, instructing a wide range of experts. Every person I have dealt with has been helpful, friendly, and kind. I am impressed by the quality of the experts."
"The Forensic Access experts we have instructed have been extremely knowledgeable, informative, easy to work with and able to explain complex topics in straightforward language that the court and juries are able to understand. We have no hesitation in using the same experts for future cases."
"I consistently receive helpful same day responses, which is invaluable because it allows me to know exactly where I stand. The fact that they usually have multiple experts available, allowing me to obtain two quotes for legal aid applications, is also extremely helpful."
Let's talk
*Please note that we can only take instruction via a Barrister or Solicitor, we do not take instruction directly from private individuals.
We are always interested in talking to experienced forensic scientists with a minimum of 5 years of forensic science work who are interested in working as Consultants to undertake ad-hoc work for us.
Call us
01235 774870
Email us
science@forensic-access.co.uk