About us
What we do
We provide high quality science and technology advice and expertise for the Home Office and develop innovative science and technology capabilites to help meet Home Office objectives.
Our work covers the full range of physical sciences and technology (apart from large scale IT and communications systems and DNA which are the responsibility of other organisations).
We apply technology to the fight against crime
- We provide technical, operational and policy support to all areas of the Home Office, to UK police forces, the Security Service and other government departments
- We employ over 200 scientists and engineers from numerous technical disciplines. They combine the knowledge of real operational problems with the technical skills to solve them
- We have 24 technical programmes and are working on over 160 projects
We provide expert, impartial scientific advice
- Our scientists give impartial and accurate technical advice to Ministers, government and front-line users such as the police. This covers everything from fingerprinting techniques to protecting our national infrastructure.
- We set the technical standards for a wide range of equipment from police protective body armour to bomb shelter areas. This helps our customers to choose the best equipment for their needs and their budget
- We are internationally renowned
We provide innovative technical solutions
- We develop new equipment and techniques where off-the-shelf equipment is not available, working with universities and industry
- We act as a broker between commercial manufacturers and customers
We provide support to operations
- With hands-on technical support for security operations
- We hold a central stock of search and surveillance equipment
- We work closely with selected law enforcement organisations across the world to share the risks, costs and benefits of complex technologies
Examples of our work include
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Developing and advising on the latest fingerprinting techniques
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Establishing standards for police protective equipment
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Developing methods and techniques to help police the roads effectively and safely
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Providing technical know-how to improve video and CCTV operations
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Developing techniques for identifying and detecting chemical and biological material
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Advising on and developing techniques for ensuring the physical safety of government and other key buildings
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Developing techniques for detecting hidden weapons and explosives
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Providing technical support and monitoring for electronic tagging of offenders
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Testing methods of ensuring prisons are secure
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Evaluating methods of passenger screening
