MORE than 200 cases handled by Sussex Police are being reviewed after the revelation that two forensic test laboratories allegedly manipulated evidence.

The force’s Road Policing Unit sent in bodily fluid samples, such as blood and urine, in 27 of the cases submitted for review.

There have so far been five cases in the county where re-tests have been conducted before court proceedings began.

The other cases up for review reportedly involve complaints relating to crimes involving sex, violence and unexplained deaths.

As one of 42 police forces affected nationally by the forensic testing scandal, Sussex Police said the retesting of evidence has not resulted in any cases failing or proceedings being “adversely impacted”, although other cases are still to come to court and remain under review.

The force added that out of the cases that have been reviewed so far, none had been dropped and no criminal convictions have been overturned as a result.

The laboratories in question were operated by Randox Testing Services (RTS), in Manchester, and Trimega, a company owned by RTS.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “We have been carrying out reviews of all the cases in order to determine if compromised data plays or played a key part in any prosecutions or inquests.

“We have also been working with the CPS to determine if further action needs to be taken.

In most cases reviewed so far toxicology evidence was not required, either because prosecution had not been begun or had been discontinued, for unrelated reasons, or because toxicology did not form part of the prosecution case.”

Andrew Pack, a Brighton and Hove City Council care lawyer, has previously drawn attention to the matter in a blog post about a couple of cases where test results from Trimega were found to be incorrect.

With more than 10,000 cases which may have been affected nationally, so far two men have been arrested and five other people have been interviewed by police under caution.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said that retesting has had no consequences for cases involving sexual offences, violence or murder.

The NPCC, working with the Forensic Science Regulator, Crown Prosecution Service, Home Office and local police forces, does not expect to know the full impact of the scandal for several months.

Sussex Police make it clear that the force has not submitted any forensic testing requests to Trimega Laboratories Ltd, which deals only with civil cases.