Security Opportunity: Scenes of Crime Officer

Scenes of crime officer Current Vacancies

2006-11-26:

Scenes of crime officers (SOCOs), sometimes called crime scene investigators (CSIs) or crime scene examiners, work with police in the investigation of serious crime.
They are usually civilians but in some police forces may be police officers in uniform or plain clothes.
The scenes worked on can vary widely, from 'volume crime' such as burglary and vehicle crime, and 'major crime' such as rape or murder.
The main elements of the work are photography, fingerprinting, forensic examination and the collection of evidence such as blood samples, hair, fibres and paint samples.
Scientific Forensic science covers a wide range of scientific disciplines.
Identification and comparison of textile fibres. Analysis of blood and urine samples for their drugs or alcohol content in driving offences. Comparison of materials used to package drugs.
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 - Research - Laboratory Attendants
Assistant Forensic Scientists - Forensic Scientists and Reporting Officers
Scene of Crime Examiners
Scene of crime examiners are required to be fully qualified when joining the FSS.
Fingerprint Experts
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
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).
Department of Forensic Medical Sciences
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
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.
Electronic Caseworkers
Our electronic forensic science services department examines all types of equipment to recover data and process it, supporting a range of criminal investigations. 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.
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,
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.
(the study of) Questioned Documents
The questioned documents teams deal with hundreds of cases each year involving handwriting of unknown and disputed authorship.
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.
Assistant Forensic Scientist
Four GCSE passes (grades A-C), including either a science (preferably biology or chemistry) or mathematics as well as an 'A' level in a scientific subject (preferably biology or chemistry).
Trainee Forensic Scientist
A scientific degree, preferably biology or chemistry based with at least a 2.2 pass.Scenes of crime officers usually work 37 hours a week, including shifts, weekends and public holidays.
Officers work indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions.
The necessity to travel to crime scenes means a driving licence is normally required.
All large police forces employ a team of up to 80 crime scene investigators, but competition for places is fierce.
Advancement is to senior and principal officer with management responsibilities.Senior crime scene investigators can earn more than 35,000 a year.
Additional London allowances are payable and there may be an additional allowance for working shifts. (Permalink)

Career Opportunities

2007-03-31: Vacancies: Where are jobs advertised? Vacancies for scientific staff are advertised in: national press. regional press - Employment Services - The human resources team at the Forensic Science Service (FSS) Training - Qualifications. A career in forensic science. Work for the Forensic Science Service. national press (if appropriate) National press - Regional press - Birmingham - Birmingham Evening Mail - Thursday - Western Mail - Thursday - Chepstow and Caldicott Free Press - Wednesday Lancashire Evening Post - Thursday - Chorley Guardian Series - Thursday - Wigan Evening Post - Thursday - Jobs North West - Thursday - Cambridge Evening News - Wednesday/Friday Hunts Post - Wednesday - Cambridge Weekly News - Wednesday - Yorkshire Evening Post - Thursday - Yorkshire Post - Thursday - Evening Standard - Thursday - Specialist publications/journals - Press Gazette. Career Opportunities. [Scientific] [Careers information] [Work experience/visits - placements] Work experience/laboratory visits Student placements
Human Resources Central Recruitment Team Trident Court. Birmingham Business Park. Birmingham. Chief Executive's office/Operational Headquarters/Research: The Forensic Science Service. Trident Court. 2920 Solihull Parkway. Birmingham Business Park. Birmingham. B37 7YN. Tel: +44 (0)121 329 5200. Fax: +44 (0)121 788 3470. Interested persons should apply to The human resources at http://www.forensic.gov.uk/forensic_t/inside/career/opp_1.htm (Permalink)

Police service

2007-01-13: Find out what the current police vacancies are and how you can apply for them police recruitment, police, recruitment, police could you, police service recruitment, police recruitment service, application for police officers, how do I apply, current vacancies, police vacancies, police support vacancies, police application We are looking for men and women who thrive on challenges, and are willing to work hard to learn the skills necessary for this difficult but critical role. How do I apply? Select a force below to search for vacancies for police officers. Or choose All forces to view the available vacancies in all 43 English and Welsh forces. Please note you can only apply to one force at a time... Interested persons should apply to police recruitment service at http://www.policecouldyou.co.uk/officers/po_apply.php (Permalink)

Cambridgeshire Constabulary

2007-01-01: With over 950 Police Staff, making a difference every day to the way we police Cambridgeshire, we can offer you a wide range of career opportunities ranging from Administration Assistants, in most departmental areas, to specialist posts, such as Fingerprint Experts and Scenes of Crime Officers maybe one of the jobs below will suit you.
Police staff are non-police officers employed by Cambridgeshire Police to support and facilitate the work of its officers and of the Force in general.
We advertise weekly in the local press (Hunts Post, Peterborough Evening Telegraph and the Cambridge Evening News.) and all our vacancies are posted on our web-site. Interested persons should apply to Police Staff at http://www.cambs.police.uk/information/recruitment/staff/vacancies.asp (Permalink)