Forensic Laboratory Services

Who we are

Forensic Laboratory Services is an integral part of the RCMP’s National Police Services (NPS) program. NPS supports the law enforcement community with data, knowledge and technical tools in order to contribute to public safety. Forensic Laboratory Services are available to Canadian police agencies, courts and government agencies in most provinces (Ontario and Quebec have their own provincial forensic laboratories).

Laboratory analyses and examinations are conducted on evidence from crime scenes, reports are issued and expert court testimony is given on the results obtained and on the conclusions which might be formulated on the basis of these results. New and advanced forensic methods are developed through research.

Forensic Laboratory Services consists of approximately 370 forensic scientists, technologists, and administrative personnel. Services are delivered through six sites across Canada. A laboratory is located in Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Halifax. The investigator’s first point of contact is the Case Receipt Unit. The National DNA Data Bank is located in Ottawa.

Each RCMP Forensic Laboratory is accredited to the international quality standard ISO 17025. This exacting process, carried out by the Standards Council of Canada, provides formal recognition that a laboratory is competent to perform specific tests.

Working as a team, Forensic Laboratory Services aims to provide state-of-the-art service and forensic science capabilities in a diverse range of scientific disciplines:

• Biology
• Bureau for Counterfeit and Document Examinations
• Chemistry
• Case Receipt Unit
• Evidence Recovery Unit
• Explosives
• Firearms and Trace Evidence
• Toxicology Services

Integral partners in the forensic science program are the Information & Technology Systems Section and the Scientific Information Centre .