Photo: RCMP. Each year, the RCMP says its National Forensic Laboratory Services (NFLS) processes thousands of requests from police agencies across the country for forensic services, in areas such as biology (DNA), toxicology, trace evidence, anti-counterfeiting, and firearms and toolmark identification.
On July 15, 2019, the RCMP took ownership of its new laboratory facility in Surrey, B.C., which replaces the existing 45-year-old Vancouver laboratory. This new facility, which is targeted to meet LEED Gold environmental standards, will feature “advanced” telecommunications systems and “specialized” workstations designed to fulfill lab operating requirements.
“As the RCMP looks to its future as a modern, advanced police service, we will continue to prioritize acquiring new technology that will ensure our long-term capabilities,” says RCMP Comm. Brenda Lucki. “Our new lab in British Columbia will allow us to continue providing valuable forensic services to support police investigations, prosecute criminals, and keep Canadians safe.”
The lab is scheduled to be at full operating capacity by the fall of 2019. During the transition period, the NFLS locations in Edmonton and Ottawa will ensure that forensic service requests continue to be processed.
The RCMP says this new lab will allow the federal police agency to continue providing critical services to support criminal investigations across Canada, helping to identify, eliminate or exonerate suspects, and enhance public safety.
In 2018-2019, NFLS processed 17,154 forensic service requests.
Print this page
