Crime Scene Investigator

**Location of Role**: Colchester / Southend / Grays / Basildon

**Advert Closing Date**: 09/02/2024

**Starting Salary**: £24,921.00 (pro-rata for part-time vacancies)

**Part/Full Time**: Full Time

**Contract Type**: Permanent

**Working Pattern**: 24/7 shift

**Weekend/Evening Working**: Yes

Do you want a career in Crime Scene Investigation? The Essex Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Department, which is part of the Essex & Kent Serious Crime Department (SCD) is committed to maximizing the effective use of forensic evidence in solving crime which you could be part of.

We are seeking individuals who are highly motivated with an investigative mind set and capable of displaying a high standard of problem-solving ability. You will need to be self-confident, capable of learning quickly and have good communication and interpersonal skills. You will also need to hold a full UK/European driving licence (for manual vehicles).

As a CSI, it’s your role to gather forensic evidence from crime scenes that will ultimately lead to the detection and prosecution of criminals. You will be expected to attend all categories of crime scene from volume crime including burglary, vehicle crime and assaults, through to major/serious scenes including GBH, robbery, rape, and murder. You will be required to process these crime scenes, conducting scientific examinations with the objective of identifying, recording and recovering physical and digital forensic evidence and intelligence information, while avoiding loss of evidence or contamination. You will also be required to give advice on scene preservation, packaging, and cordons.

You will need to compile accurate and comprehensive scene examination reports and complete all supporting documentation in an electronic manner. As part of the Criminal Justice process, you will be expected to produce statements detailing your examinations, and where required, attend coroners, crown, or magistrates court to give evidence as a professional witness.

This role works in line with Quality Standards ISO 17020 and the Forensic Regulators Code of Practice and Conduct; thus, you will also be required to evidence competency in your role and always adhere to the organisational quality standards.

A high proportion of the role requires lone working; you will need to work independently on your own initiative. Where required you will also need to work well as part of a team and under the direction of a Senior CSI or Crime Scene Manager, particularly at major or serious crime scenes.

The successful applicant must have the ability to communicate with members of the public, complainants, or victims, often when they are distressed or potentially hostile, to establish the circumstances or a sequence of events.

Applicants must have and maintain a reasonable standard of physical health and wellbeing. The role involves being agile and able to climb, bend and get into awkward places such as lofts, ditches etc. and be strong enough to lift heavy items as required. Applicants should also have good eyesight (with or without correction) to carry out detailed and meticulous close-up work.

You must be prepared to work in all weathers and times of day and night, sometimes under very challenging and pressurised conditions. This includes attendance at post-mortems, prisons, custody and/or other crimes that require a great deal of fortitude and maturity.

The post holder may be required to undertake other duties which are not necessarily specified on the role profile, but which are commensurate with the role.

Applicants will be required to provide elimination fingerprints and DNA samples for elimination purposes against Police and accredited Forensic Service Provider databases.

Training

The initial training course is delivered in two parts at the CSI training facility at Kent Police College, Maidstone. After completing each part, you will undergo tutoring, during which time you will be required to demonstrate competency in line with ISO 17020 requirements and as part of your Personal Development Portfolio (PDP). Once competent you will be able to examine scenes independently.

Work pattern and remuneration

You will be expected to partake in a designated shift pattern, which includes weekends, working on average 37 hours per week between the hours 0700 to 2300 that attracts a 14% shift allowance and weekend working enhancement in line with the Police Staff Council (PSC) Handbook. This also requires participation in an on-call rota for serious and major crime, for which an on-call allowance is paid.

Our Location

The vacancies are based at Southend, Grays, Colchester & Basildon.

What we are looking for

At Shortlisting we will be looking for the following Essential criteria:
Good interpersonal skills, can effectively communicate and interact with other people across all levels, able to record facts and opinions accurately.

It is essential that you are flexible and resilient (physically and psychologically)