Scientists who solved a string of crimes now face the sack

The Forensic Science Service (FSS), which employs about 1,650 staff including 200 in Wetherby, has uncovered crucial evidence in complex cases like the July 7 bombings, the abduction of Dewsbury schoolgirl Shannon Matthews and the murder of Lesley Molseed, whose body was found on moorland near Ripponden.

But Crime Prevention Minister James Brokenshire revealed yesterday the service is losing 2m a month and was likely to run out of money by January.

He said the Government needed to take "clear and decisive action to sort this out" and would transfer or sell off as much of FSS's operations as possible.

The move has surprised Yorkshire's police forces, who are currently reviewing the way they carry out forensic work and regularly ask scientists at Wetherby to analyse items found at crime scenes.

Yorkshire's temporary deputy chief constable for regional policing, Mark Whyman, said: "We have enjoyed a good service from the FSS and in a world where we are hearing of changes by the day, we will now have to review our options for the future of forensic analysis for the forces of Yorkshire and the Humber."

In a written statement to MPs, Mr Brokenshire claimed that the previous Labour Government had failed to reform the FSS "when it had the chance" and had allowed it to run at costs far higher than its commercial rivals.

The FSS, which has been a Government-owned company since 2005, will be broken up and closed over the next 12 to 15 months.

The Government will work with its management and staff, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and other suppliers to "ensure an orderly transition", Mr Brokenshire wrote.

But critics feared the move would hamper investigators. Dr Chris Maguire, of Northumbria University's Centre for Forensic Science, said: "After the bombings and attempted bombings in July 2005, the FSS was able to commit more than 170 staff at three sites to support the Metropolitan Police with their investigation. DNA profiling was used to confirm the identity of the 7/7 suicide bombers and link evidence to suspects in the 21/7 attacks.

"The routine caseload of sexual offences, homicide and burglary continued without interruption.

"I doubt any other system would be able to concentrate these resources so swiftly."

Mike Clancy, of union Prospect, which represents more than 1,000 FSS employees, said: "Cost will now determine justice in the UK."

ACPO's spokesman on forensics procurement, Deputy Chief Constable Chris Eyre, admitted the FSS's closure would have "significant implications" for forces and future forensic arrangements would have to be co-ordinated nationally to ensure standards were maintained.

A spokeswoman for the FSS said it had undergone a "radical transformation programme" to improve efficiency, but its order book had been hit by forces carrying out more forensic examinations in-house to save money.