Police Halt Drug-Testing Data Manipulation Probe Due to Funding Shortfall

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has concluded a multi-million pound inquiry into alleged data manipulation at two forensic science drug-testing firms. The force announced it would not pursue further action against seven individuals formerly employed by Randox Testing Services (RTS) and Trimega Laboratories prior to 2017. The police initiated the investigation in 2017 following the arrests of two scientists suspected of data tampering at a laboratory utilized by law enforcement for analyzing samples in prosecutions. A spokesperson for GMP stated that the seven-year inquiry was terminated because of insufficient funding to process the “unprecedented mass of materials” gathered. Following the arrests of the laboratory personnel in 2017, police halted all contracts with the company and mandated a review. By December 2018, the National Police Chiefs’ Council reported identifying over 10,500 cases potentially impacted by the manipulation. Samples requiring retesting encompassed those related to sex cases, violent crimes, unexplained deaths, and driving offences. The probe subsequently expanded to include Trimega Laboratories, where 17,000 test results were examined. A total of seven suspects were identified, all of whom had been employed by Trimega. Three of these individuals later worked at RTS. At the outset of GMP’s investigation, Nicholas Hurd, then Policing Minister, informed MPs that Randox was fully cooperating to “identify the priority cases [and] get the retesting done as quickly as possible.” Data for testing had been submitted to the laboratory by 42 police forces, with three quarters of the cases pertaining to individuals suspected of traffic-related offences. Following the initiation of the investigation, over 40 motorists convicted of drug-driving offences were exonerated. The National Police Chiefs’ Council verified that an additional 50 drug-driving cases were also discontinued due to these findings. In 2017, RTS stated that it had uncovered suspected data manipulation within its Manchester laboratory processes and promptly reported these suspicions to both the police and the Home Office. RTS also indicated that, as part of its cooperation, it was contributing to the costs of re-testing samples. In announcing the cessation of its investigation, GMP confirmed that the seven suspects would not face further proceedings. Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson remarked that the decision “had not been taken lightly” and left open the option of resuming the case should the “required resources and technology” become accessible. He stated: “This is, of course, frustrating for people across the country whose lives have been affected by civil, family, and criminal court cases which have relied on test results from these companies and could have been miscarriages of justice.” RTS expressed that it understood the frustration regarding the case’s withdrawal, but “noted the current pressures on police resources” and expressed openness to the police investigation potentially resuming in the future. A company spokesperson further commented: “The alleged manipulation in RTS involved changing data in testing methods which had been accredited by the UK agency UKAS. The actual samples were not affected.” The spokesperson also affirmed: “It was Randox’s whistleblowing that brought the matter of alleged data manipulation to the attention of GMP, and other appropriate authorities.” Trimega entered administration in April 2014.