Tasmania’s Police Minister says criminals are roaming free as a result of CPSU-affiliated forensic staff withholding crime reports.

Forensic Science Service Tasmania staff have reportedly been withholding reports as part of ongoing industrial action in the state.

They are also withholding the calibration of 10 per cent of evidential breathalysers and banned the provision of external training.

Police Minister Michael Ferguson says it is impacting the ability to access DNA analysis linking offenders to property crimes such as car thefts, burglaries and stealing.

“Under this action, there are 25 DNA reports that Tasmania Police would be able to immediately act on, but this vital information is being withheld from police,” Mr Ferguson said. 

Reports say 14 of the withheld DNA reports match a person on the DNA database to a crime and the other 11 contain a potentially useful DNA result.

“It is outrageous that union bosses would put the community at risk like this,” Mr Ferguson said.

“The people affected by these crimes will be rightly outraged that union action is allowing criminals to remain on the streets.”

Wages agreements between the government and state branches of the Australian Education Union, Community and Public Sector Union, Health Services Union and United Voice expired in June

The CPSU wants the government to scrap its 2 per cent wage cap.