IN most people’s lives illness and being the victim of crime are probably foremost in their thoughts.

In times of recession and falling on hard times, a rise in the crime rate is to be expected.

However, spending cuts, reductions in police manpower, closing of law courts and the recent announcement that the forensic science service’s Wetherby centre is to close would appear to be a step in the wrong direction.

Since the introduction of fingerprint technology in 1895, photography and DNA identification, science laboratories have played a vital role in solving many crimes both in the past and indeed bringing criminals to justice from crimes committee from yesteryear.

In financial terms, it is counter-productive verging on a false economy, when it comes to crimes of burglary, fraud and financial loss to would-be victims, with increases in insurance premiums for injury and damage caused.

Forensic science in its present form is the most important weapon in the fight against crime.

Mr Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York.