FSR-GUI-0006 Issue 2 is guidance published by the Forensic Science Regulator in August 2026. It explains how forensic units should approach the requirements of the statutory Code of Practice for Incident Scene Examination (FSA – INC 100).

The guidance covers important areas including practitioner competence, professional judgement, forensic scene management, contamination control, technical records and quality assurance.

Although the guidance itself is not part of the statutory Code, it helps organisations understand how they can demonstrate that they meet the Code's requirements.

For CSI managers and forensic leaders, it provides an important framework for reviewing existing procedures, competency arrangements and operational practices.

The Forensic Science Regulator has introduced a milestone-based approach to help organisations progress towards compliance with the Code of Practice for Incident Scene Examination.

Two important deadlines are:

• 6 April 2027 – Milestone 1: Organisations must have a corporate competency framework covering all relevant crime types and operational sites within the defined minimum scope. This must include forensic scene management.
• 2 October 2027 – Milestone 2: Organisations must have adopted a risk-based approach to anti-contamination and proportionate note-taking.

A further requirement is for organisations to demonstrate that applicable minimum-scope sub-activities are valid or fit for purpose across the crime types they undertake.

It is important to understand that achieving these interim milestones does not, by itself, constitute full compliance with the Code. Organisations remain responsible for meeting all applicable requirements.

The Code of Practice places greater emphasis on demonstrating that forensic practitioners are competent to undertake their roles and can apply their knowledge and professional judgement effectively in real operational environments.

For CSI managers and forensic leaders, this means looking beyond course attendance and ensuring that appropriate systems are in place to develop, assess, monitor and maintain practitioner competence.

Key responsibilities include:

• Establishing clear competency requirements for different roles and activities.
• Ensuring practitioners receive appropriate initial training, assessment and authorisation.
• Monitoring ongoing competence through risk-based assessment and periodic witnessing.
• Ensuring professional judgement and decision-making can be demonstrated and justified.
• Maintaining appropriate technical records and examination documentation.
• Managing contamination risks and ensuring staff understand their responsibilities.
• Reviewing procedures, quality assurance arrangements and the effectiveness of examination activities.

The guidance also highlights the importance of assessing competence in realistic operational conditions, where practitioners must demonstrate that they can apply their knowledge and skills to different types of incident.

For CSI managers, the challenge is to ensure that competence is not simply recorded, but can be evidenced and defended.

FSR-GUI-0006 Issue 2 recognises that competency assessments can be undertaken internally or by an external provider.

Specialist external training providers can help forensic units develop and assess practitioner competence through structured training, realistic scenarios, practical exercises and professional discussions.

For example, external support can include:

• Scenario-based crime scene examination and assessment.
• Crime Scene Manager training using realistic major incident scenarios.
• Simulated scene examinations with known outcomes.
• Isolated technical method demonstrations.
• Specialist practical workshops and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Professional discussions and knowledge-based assessments.

These approaches can help organisations generate useful evidence of practitioner knowledge, practical ability and professional judgement.

The use of an external provider does not transfer responsibility for compliance. The forensic unit retains ownership of its competency framework, authorisation decisions, quality controls and overall assurance arrangements.

At The Forensic Training Partnership CIC, we work with experienced forensic practitioners to deliver specialist training and scenario-based assessment support designed to help organisations develop and demonstrate the competencies required in modern forensic practice.

Find out how FTP can support your organisation's forensic training, competency development and assessment requirements. Contact us now - https://forensictraininguk.org/contact-us/