Thames Valley Police reveal new Forensic Centre plans for Bicester

Thames Valley Police have unveiled plans for a new forensics centre in Bicester.

The centre, which will contain laboratories and dedicated training facilities, will become the main forensics hub for the force.

Plans for the forensic hubs construction were approved by Cherwell City Council’s planning committee. The centre will be built on land already owned by the force near Avonbury Business Park.

This new centre is part of the force’s three-year forensic improvement programme. Construction is expected to begin in the summer and to be completed by winter 2024-25.

Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber said: “The programme is the result of a review of Thames Valley Police’s forensics services as a whole where we’ve identified the need to modernise facilities and increase capacity.

“In a world of rapidly advancing technology, ensuring the police stay on the cutting edge of forensics is crucial to keeping the public safe.’’

The force’s forensics improvement programme is not limited to the construction of the centre. To further cultivate the programme the force has invested in frontline digital forensics tools and systems, new technologies to speed up the examination of evidence, and recruitment of additional staff for the Forensic Investigation Unit.

Head of Forensic Services at Thames Valley Police Kay Hannam said: ‘’This critical investment will support forensic services across the board in adopting new technologies, developing our people and ensuring legitimacy into the criminal justice system.

“Underpinning this programme of growth is our proposed new purpose built accommodation that will bring specialisms together under one roof. Here we will have the flexibility to expand our services to meet existing and future demand.”