Massive backlog revealed at Government Analyst's Department in audit

A damning audit report has revealed that the Government Analyst's Department is struggling with an overwhelming caseload, with 43,656 case productions awaiting examination, the National Audit Office disclosed. The figures exclude materials referred to the Food Science Division, highlighting the scale of delays across other critical forensic and analytical functions. Of the pending cases, 29,286 submissions have been referred to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Section alone, underscoring the strain on the department's capacity to process drug-related evidence. The accumulation of unexamined cases raises concerns about the timeliness of criminal investigations and prosecutions that depend on forensic analysis. The audit findings suggest systemic resource constraints within the Government Analyst's Department, potentially impacting the efficiency of the criminal justice system and the pursuit of cases involving controlled substances.