IN these straitened times, our public services are frequently enjoined to make the most of what they have. Now, one sector has decided to do just that – by deploying the advanced techniques of its forensic services in the detection of funding.

The idea is that the Scottish Police Authority’s forensic unit will sell its crime-solving expertise to film-makers and television channels, and also acting as drug testers for sports.

With the obvious caveat that this must not eat into its important crime-solving work, this sounds like an idea worth trying, particularly if it ends up improving the service through the raising of funds.

It will certainly offer the forensic service’s Multimedia Unit a stage on which to showcase its considerable skills, which include animation and the 3D reconstruction of crime scenes, vehicle crashes, injuries, bullet trajectories and the movements of suspects, including their mobile phone locations.

Many of us may feel a sense of unease at the deployment of techniques used in very important work for the purposes of entertainment or sport. But, as with jurors viewing crime scenes or injuries, this is probably not something about which we can afford to be squeamish.

Needs must when funding drives a service – just so long

as the service’s needs come

first.