The Unit provides a suspicious and homicide forensic pathology service for the five East Midlands police forces (Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire). It assists the nine coroner’s jurisdictions of the East Midlands in providing a 24-hour service, 365 days a year. The Unit also provides live patient examination and injury opinion work to police forces, courts and solicitors throughout England and Wales. 

Local services

Mortuaries

The principle mortuary for the Unit is based at the Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI). The present mortuary is now split into a dedicated forensic mortuary, a main seven-table mortuary (the largest currently in the UK) and a dedicated foetal and neonatal mortuary. All police cases for Leicester, Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire are examined at this mortuary. The Unit members travel to Lincolnshire and Derbyshire mortuaries to undertake police work although some cases from these counties are moved to the LRI on occasion.

Forensic toxicology

The forensic toxicology service was established by Professor Rutty in 2001. It is based within the NHS Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology Department at the LRI. Approximately 3,000 forensic toxicology examinations have been undertaken by the service since its conception.

Forensic engineering

The forensic engineering service was established by Professor Rutty in conjunction with Dr Sarah Hainsworth, University of Leicester. Today it has a national reputation for the examination of weapon marks on bones (knives and saw marks) as well as the consideration of the stabbing qualities of weapons.

Forensic imaging

The forensic imaging service was established by Professor Rutty in conjunction with the Imaging Unit at the LRI. Today it is the lead Unit in the UK for the use of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in forensic investigations. Wherever possible all suspicious deaths and homicides are imaged by the service prior to autopsy examination. The Unit is also involved in the development of scan, view and grant as an alternative to autopsy examination.

Regional service

The Unit is responsible for the provision of a mass fatality service to the East Midlands coroners. Professor Rutty sits on the local and regional resilience government committees for mass incident and fatality planning. They assist with the writing of local and regional mass fatality plans and the provision of the temporary mortuaries.

National service

The members of the Unit are part of the UK-DVI response team.

International service

The Unit members assist internationally, for example with the provision of a forensic pathology service to the coroner of the Falkland Islands and Territorial Waters (Falkland, St Georgia and British Antarctica). They assist humanitarian organisations, the United Nations, Kenyon’s International, the ICMP and UK Foreign Office for international mass fatality response.