Home Office Scientific Development Branch

The Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB; formerly the Police Scientific Development Branch) was a branch of the Home Office in the United Kingdom which provided scientific research into new technology that could be used to fight crime.^[1] A government website states that The ‘Centre for Applied Science and Technology’ (CAST) integrated with the ‘Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’ (Dstl) on 1 April 2018."^[2][3]

Key Information

The Wireless station was a Second World War listening Station for GCHQ.
Abbreviation	HOSDB
Formation	Unknown
Dissolved	Unknown date
Legal status	Government-owned company
Purpose	Research
Location	Sandridge, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Membership	Scientific Development
Director	Alan Pratt
Parent organization	Home Office
Affiliations	UK Police Forces
Website	HOSDB
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The HOSDB's role was to support the Home Office's strategic aims through the effective application of science and technology.^[4] HOSDB would also provide technical support for the UK's police and security services. HOSDB has two sites in the UK: Sandridge, Hertfordshire and Langhurst, West Sussex. The work of the HOSDB involved hi-tech research into countering terrorism, technology to fight crime, borders security, and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour. Their work sometimes involved attending incidents such as the explosions in London in 2005 in order to assess structural impacts, etc. There were 250 staff: 200 scientists and engineers and 50 support staff, half of whom live in and around Sandridge, making them a large local employer.

• Police Scientific Development Branch
• Home Office Scientific Development Branch