THE SCOTTISH Police Services Authority (SPSA) could save around £1 million from the merged forensic laboratory in Dundee.

The body set up to provide services to Scottish police yesterday underlined its intention to close a centre in Aberdeen and absorb it into a purpose-built lab by the Tay.

Grampian councillors have been disappointed by a lack of consultation since justice minister Kenny MacAskill ordered a review of the proposed closure, and claim that a merger will hamper investigations.

An SPSA document said, “We believe there is an over provision of forensic laboratories in Scotland.

“A conclusion reinforced by the evidence we have of under-utilisation of instrumentation whereby they tend to run at only half of their capacity.

“Second is cost. As an organisation set up to identify and achieve efficiencies in our business, we have a duty to maximise the impact and effectiveness of every pound of taxpayers’ money we spend.”

The SPSA says that rationalising management and administration costs will save £327,000, while rent and other savings will run to £557,000.

Savings from “streamlined business processes” could add £215,000.

The document continues, “Choosing Aberdeen rather than Dundee would lead to the relocation of twice as many staff—approximately 85 rather than 40.

“The retention of expertise is also significant given the specialist work carried out in DNA at Dundee. Loss of such expertise would have further increased the cost of relocation to the north-east.”

Plans for a £16.2 million lab at Dundee City Quay, to be completed early in 2010, were unveiled last month.

The new forensic unit will house Scotland’s DNA database, biology and chemistry laboratories and fingerprint and scene examination units. The project will be one of the largest offices in the city for a generation.

Despite the SPSA’s determination to close its Aberdeen lab, members of the Grampian police board hope that the Scottish Government will intervene.

A spokesman for the government said it is awaiting the completion of the consultation process.

He said, “The cabinet secretary for justice asked the Scottish Police Services Authority to consult stakeholders on issues raised around the proposed closure of the forensic laboratory in the north-east.

“He will consider the outcome of that consultation when it is complete.”