Correspondence by the Association of Forensic Science Providers (AFSP), Body Fluid Forum (BFF) on an article written by N. Dawnay and K. Sheppard: “From crime scene to courtroom: A review of the current bioanalytical evidence workflows used in rape and sexual assault investigations in the United Kingdom, Science & Justice 63 (2023) 206-228”

Sci Justice. 2025 Nov;65(6):101317. doi: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101317. Epub 2025 Aug 31.

ABSTRACT

“From crime scene to courtroom: A review of the current bioanalytical evidence workflows used in rape and sexual assault investigations in the United Kingdom” by N. Dawnay and K. Sheppard (Science & Justice 63 (2023) 206-228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2022.12.006) has been reviewed by the Body Fluid Forum (BFF) of the Association of Forensic Science Providers (AFSP). The BFF consists of a representative of each of the Forensic Science Providers within the UK and Ireland and as such, strives to provide best practice guidance for the examination and evaluation of biological evidence within cases involving rape and sexual assault. With this in mind, this article aims to address inaccuracies regarding laboratory (and scene) forensic examinations for body fluids and interpretation of the findings in respect of prosecution and defence propositions.

PMID:41320447 | DOI:10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101317