Commentary on provisions of Act Section 1: Regulator’s duty to publish a code of practice
Subsection (1) requires the Regulator to publish a Code of Practice (the code) about forensic science activities in England and Wales. "Forensic science activity" is defined in Section 11.
	Subsection (2)(a) requires that the code specifies the activities it applies to. The Regulator’s investigative and enforcement powers in Sections 6 and 7 are limited to activities that are covered by the code, so it is important that those activities are clearly identified in the code.
	Subsection 2(b) provides that the code does not need to cover every forensic science activity. The definition of "forensic science activity" allows the statutory regime to keep pace with developments in forensic science, so the Regulator is not obliged to include all activities falling within the definition within the code.
	Subsection (2)(c) means that the code does not need to make uniform provision in respect of forensic science activities and different provision can be made in respect of an activity in different situations. This affords flexibility to the Regulator when preparing the code. For example, the code may make different provision in respect of a particular forensic science process depending on whether the process is being performed at a crime scene or in a laboratory.
	Subsection (3) provides that the Regulator must publish the code in an appropriate way.
	Subsection (4)(a) provides that the Regulator keeps the code under review.
	Subsection (4)(b) provides for the Regulator to make alterations to the code, or to replace the code, as necessary.
	Subsection (5) defines "the code" as being the Code of Practice, as defined under this section, that is currently in force.