Submissions & Biometrics Officer

To provide a customer focused service within the Forensic Investigation Resource Submissions Team (FIRST), evaluating forensic work requests; providing advice to police officers on forensic services. Coordinating the movement of exhibits within Force and to external forensic service providers, supporting exhibit logistic services and associated continuity. Ensuring compliance to legislative regulations that govern adherence to biometric practices within the forensic field on behalf of West Midlands Police, Warwickshire Police and their wider stakeholders.

**Key Responsibilities**
- To provide a front desk service for the receipt of forensic evidence into the FIRST Team and have regular contact with West Midlands Police & Warwickshire Police staff, the general public and external agencies/other forces.
- Offer proficient advice and guidance on forensic issues and capabilities, authorising forensic exhibits for volume crime and major crime investigations. Ensuring strict adherence to accredited procedures and work instructions for both categories, with particular emphasis on major crime investigations due to their higher complexity, considering and aligning forensic effectiveness with the specific needs of each investigation to achieve optimal forensic outcomes.
- To ensure all forensic submissions into FIRST are receipted in accordance with Forensic Service Department quality procedures ensuring the correct completion of all applicable exhibit continuity documentation, creating a clear exhibit audit trail for all evidence as it transits through the department to internal and external suppliers.
- To verify all applicable invoices received against work orders placed with forensic service providers (FSP’s) to ensure only authorised work has been completed and charged for in line with budgetary expectations
- To effectively control exhibit storage areas, ensuring all incoming items are cycled through the store from receipt to supplier to deliver continuity of evidence and outgoing items are returned to authorised personnel within specified time frames and accounted for in departmental records.
- To assess the integrity of the packaging of exhibits for forensic examination
- To understand the correct sequential examination processes of exhibits and to provide best value to West Midlands Police and Warwickshire Police.
- To ensure all associated biometric submissions i.e. PACE DNA samples are receipted in accordance with Forensic Service Department quality procedures ensuring the correct completion of all applicable exhibit continuity documentation, creating a clear exhibit audit trail for all evidence as it transits through the department to internal and external suppliers.
- Collate, manage and evidence the flow of analytical data from a variety of sources, both manual and computerised. To ensure that data and evidence is checked, verified and adapted to facilitate analysis and dispatched into applicable files and systems, ensuring legislative compliance where applicable i.e. CPIA & POFA legislation.
- To be responsible for the production and tracking of Forensic Intelligence Packages generated for both internal and external customers of the organisation, ensuring compliance and legality using the appropriate force systems.
- Receipt and ensure adequate storage of DNA samples, adhering to quality procedures and legislative regulation i.e. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE)
- Conduct quality checks of receipted DNA samples (DNA Processing) ensuring all legislative requirements are met prior to samples being sent to an external Forensic Service Provider for DNA profiling.
- Carry out administrative duties comprising but not limited to the recording daily DNA PACE workflow figures, production of monthly performance monitoring figures for FINDs, processing of POFA deletions and assisting with FINDS reports resolution.
- Assist with Biometric Vetting submissions, carrying out all applicable administrative duties pre and post DNA profiling, liaising with external Forensic Service Providers and Professional Standards where appropriate.
- Participate in the West Midlands Police Biometrics Group, providing performance data and feedback where appropriate.
- Contributing to the effective maintenance of the Forensic Service Departments Quality Management System, consisting of but not limited to document control, non-conformance investigation, auditing, identifying discrepancies or errors, taking appropriate corrective actions
- Utilise force systems including but not limited to Connect, Socrates to effectively manage workstreams, interrogating data to ensure compliance and legality.
- To take adequate security precautions and in respect of information in accordance with force policies and GDPR legislation.
- Stay up-to-date with relevant regulations, standards and best practices that govern the adherence to biometric practices within the forensic field. Attend workshops, seminars, and training sessions as requ