ROW WITH FORENSIC SCIENTISTS THREATENS DRUG CRACKDOWN

THE Government’s crackdown on drugs could be thrown into chaos following
threats by scientists to withdraw vital forensic services to the gardai.

Forensic staff working on drugs cases for the gardai at the State Forensic
Laboratory say they are unable to cope with a soaring caseload which has
jumped seven fold in the past 20 years.

They say their employer, the Department of Justice, is not paying them for
weekend and evening work and have called for more staff to help with the
workload.

IMPACT official, Peter Nolan, said a long standing dispute over pay could
result in forensic staff refusing to attend the scene of major crimes
especially at off peak times.

The vital service provided by the lab in the war against drugs and other
serious crime would be compromised if the Department refused to order a
review.

“Staff are currently working evenings and weekends for nothing. Unless the
Department is prepared to give financial recognition for this dedication in
the very near future, they are likely to withdraw their co operation,” he
said.

The number of drugs related cases referred to the forensic lab has jumped
by a staggering 700% since 1980, from 1,000 a year to over 8,300 last year.

But the number of forensic staff working on drugs cases at the lab has only
increased in the same period from eight to 17, according to their union,
IMPACT.

Forensic Laboratory director, Dr Jim Donovan last night said he was waiting
for the go ahead from the Department to appoint more scientists from an
existing panel.

“We are losing staff to the private sector because of the rates of pay but
the labour intensive nature of the work is also contributing to the backlog
at the laboratory.”

At IMPACT’s AGM yesterday, the Forensic Science Branch called for an
immediate and independent review of the science service.

The work carried out by the drugs branch of the lab includes the
identification of drugs, their potency and the assessment of their value.

The scientists provide gardai with vital information to determine if the
drugs seized were intended for personal use, small scale supply or major
trafficking.

A spokesman for Justice Minister, John O’Donoghue last night said
Department officials were in direct contact with IMPACT to discuss on call
pay allowances.

The Department would shortly advertise for consultants to review the
forensic services.