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Scientific

Forensic science covers a wide range of scientific disciplines. Its main function is to provide impartial, scientific evidence for use in courts of law. This is usually as a result of a police enquiry, where scientific evidence is needed to help the police with their investigations. This can include:

• Identification of blood, semen and other body fluids; the blood grouping of dried stains and the use of DNA profiling to compare samples.
• Identification and comparison of textile fibres.
• Identification and comparison of plant and animal materials - including hairs.
• Analysis of blood and urine samples for their drugs or alcohol content in driving offences.
• Analysis of body fluids and organs in cases of suspected poisoning.
• Identification of illegal drugs, such as amphetamine, heroin and cannabis. The purity of these drugs is often determined and samples can be compared.
• Comparison of materials used to package drugs.
• Examination of paint and glass fragments using microscopy, physical and chemical methods.

Scientists work closely with the police and are sometimes required to go to a crime scene - such as a murder or fire. They frequently give evidence in court, and since their evidence is impartial, it can support either the case for the prosecution or defence.

Scientists specialise in various areas of work because of the in-depth practical skills and knowledge required. A guide to vacancies and skills in these areas of expertise is given below. However, a full job and person specification is sent out to candidates when vacancies are advertised.

Laboratory Attendants
Assistant Forensic Scientists
Forensic Scientists and Reporting Officers
Scene of Crime Examiners
Fingerprint Experts
Forensic Imaging Specialists - Specialist Location and Recovery Unit
Department of Forensic Medical Sciences
Firearms
Electronic Caseworkers
Accident Investigation
Fire Investigation
Questioned Documents (the study of)
Research

Laboratory Attendants
Perform a number of essential support roles within the laboratory. For this role, previous work experience in a laboratory environment would be an advantage.

Assistant Forensic Scientists
Working in the various areas of our business as described earlier, assistant forensic scientists undertake biology and chemistry-based analytical work. The role of an assistant is predominately laboratory based, so previous lab experience may be an advantage along with the necessary qualifications for this role. See entry level qualifications.

Forensic Scientists and Reporting Officers
Though still lab based, as a forensic scientist you may be required to attend crime scenes in an advisory capacity. As this role is senior to the assistants, you may also have some supervisory responsibility within the lab depending on your role and work area. Forensic scientists are primarily concerned with examining contact trace material associated with crimes, looking for evidence to link a suspect with a scene of crime. All forms of analysis are used and the main areas of work involve biology, chemistry, drugs and toxicology.

Forensic Scientist - Reporting Officers are trained to provide impartial scientific evidence for use in courts of law to support the prosecution or defence in criminal and civil investigations.

The FSS usually recruits trainee forensic scientists once a year around the summer/autumn period.

All forensic scientists are required to have a scientific degree (usually in a biology or chemistry related subject).

Scene of Crime Examiners
Although the FSS does employ a team of scene of crime examiners, this is not an area for which we commonly recruit. Scene of crime examiners are required to be fully qualified when joining the FSS. The usual qualification required would be the Association of Chief Police Officers certificate which is not obtainable from the FSS. Further details of this course and related subjects can be obtained from The National Training Centre for Scientific Support to Crime Investigation, which is based in county Durham. Any queries relating to crime scene courses and qualifications (or related areas such as fingerprints etc) should in the first instance be directed to the National Training Centre on 01388 762191 or http://www.forensic-training.police.uk. Further career details can also be found at http://www.worktrain.gov.uk, select "occupations" and "crime scene examiner" or "forensic scientist".

Fingerprint Experts
As with scene of crime examiners, the FSS does employ a team of fingerprint experts, though this is not an area for which we commonly recruit. As a norm, fingerprint experts are expected to be accredited by the National Register of Fingerprint Experts, as well as the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners and to demonstrate experience in all areas of fingerprint work.

Forensic Imaging Specialists - Specialist Location and Recovery Unit
Imaging specialists use both conventional and digital media in conjunction with a wide range of lighting techniques to record and enhance marks for evidential purposes, on items submitted to the laboratory and also at crime scenes.
They are often required to work long and unsociable hours, and be part of an on-call rota. We look for people who have a minimum of a BTEC National Diploma in Photography and at least one year's professional photographic work experience. Digital experience is desirable. There are no specific courses that deal with forensic imaging, but many of the science-based courses deal with relevant topics (contact UCAS for further information on courses such as BSc in Digital and Photographic Imaging). However, the majority of the skills needed will be developed 'on the job' through an extensive training programme.

Department of Forensic Medical Sciences
This is a new department that has been established to carry out pathology and other medico-legal work within the FSS to benefit our customers as well as the forensic medical and science communities. The team will provide a comprehensive forensic pathology service, including suspicious death autopsies for the prosecution, defence autopsies and routine coroners' autopsies. In addition the team will provide medical opinions in cases of medical negligence and clinical forensic medicine. The department also has a special interest in human identification, including osteology, facial and other forms of identification. Members of the team will also be expected to be involved in research activities as well as teaching to both undergraduate and postgraduate students through the department's academic affiliations. The department will comprise a mixture of medical doctors specialising in forensic pathology and training in forensic pathology, scientists with a biomedical background including gross anatomy and paramedical staff to assist pathologists (forensic medical assistants).

Firearms
The FSS provides a comprehensive firearms service which supports its police customers at many different levels. This service covers examination and classification of weapons/ammunition, comparison of crime scene material to determine the origin of the weapon used and for scene to scene intelligence and scene to weapon linking plus attending crime scenes of crime to interpret what happened and maximise the potential of the forensic evidence present. Staff within the firearms area fall into two main categories - technical officers who are more practical based and reporting officers who determine case strategies, interpret scientific findings and provide expert testimony (see reporting officer definition above). Staff working in the firearms unit will be required to hold relevant scientific qualifications (see entry level qualifications), however, practical based experience of a mechanical nature would be desirable as well as being able to demonstrate problem solving abilities.

Electronic Caseworkers
Over the past 10 years the nature of crime and its detection have undergone a transformation. These changes have largely been due to the advancement of technology. For example, as computers and mobile phones become more common, so does their use in criminal activities. Similarly the prevalence of CCTV in society is increasingly capturing evidence. Many other technologies will also record important information that can subsequently be recovered. Our electronic forensic science services department examines all types of equipment to recover data and process it, supporting a range of criminal investigations. Electronic caseworkers will document information in written reports, but you may also be called on to appear in court as an expert witness.

In order to join the electronic casework team you must be a graduate of electrical engineering, electronics, physics or a similar discipline and have a proven track record in signal processing or electronics and its use. You will also need to demonstrate a good working knowledge of the electronic architecture of computers, PDAs or mobile phones and have a logical approach to problem solving - alternatively you will have experience in audio or visual signal processing. In our customer-focused environment, you will be relied upon to deliver results to deadlines. An understanding of the criminal justice system or specific technologies would be an advantage. However, the FSS offers training in scientific methods and evidence recovery that will improve your skills and knowledge.

Accident Investigation
This group provides police forces with technical support in the investigation of road traffic accidents and other incidents. The work may involve the reconstruction of events leading up to a collision, or the detailed examination of vehicle components. For trainee positions, the usual minimum qualification is an honours degree in an appropriate scientific or engineering discipline, eg. physics, materials science or mechanical engineering. Some knowledge of automotive technology would also be advantageous. Further information on accident investigation can be obtained from The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators, www.itai.org.

Fire Investigation
The FSS employs scene-going fire investigators at all of its main laboratories. Generally team members also carry out work in other areas of forensic science within the FSS. In order to become a member of the fire investigation unit you would be required to be a fully trained forensic scientist, you would then receive additional internal and external training before becoming an authorised scene investigator.

Questioned Documents (the study of)
The identification of an individual from their handwriting to the exclusion of all others is one of the most powerful tools in forensic science. The questioned documents teams deal with hundreds of cases each year involving handwriting of unknown and disputed authorship. An example of the analysis work carried out by the team involves looking at handwriting and signatures, detection of alterations, indented impressions and paper and ink. There are no specific degrees or courses that relate to document analysis and people joining the team come from a number of scientific or forensic disciplines such as biologists, chemists, and even forensic archaeologists.

Research
Research and development centres on the evaluation, development and implementation of leading technology, to deliver solutions to policing problems and the administration of justice. Key programmes of work look at: Optimising the location and recovery of evidence; maximising the value of evidence; developing total knowledge of management and forensic intelligence systems;
Re-engineering existing processes.

Qualifications for entry into research posts are as outlined in the entry level qualifications on the website and are the same as for assistant and forensic Scientist.

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