Level 2 Crime Scene Investigator (Des)

Do you have a keen eye for details and an investigative mind-set? Are you able to think laterally and apply your training and experience to a range of complex situations? Do you have strong personal resilience and a willingness to be exposed to human trauma on a regular basis? Are you also willing to work half your weekends, work late shifts and be on call overnight occasionally? If so, you may be suitable to commence a challenging and rewarding career as a Crime Scene Investigator and have the privilege of enabling justice for victims of crime.

CSI is an exciting role at the forefront of criminal investigations. You will work within a team of positive, likeminded people who are focussed on providing justice for victims of crime. You will have autonomy to attend crime scenes on your own, manage your own time and determine strategies for recovering forensic evidence.

Our highly skilled team of CSIs attend scenes for the full array of crimes from burglary to murder. They use initiative to apply their training and experience to interpret scenes and reconstruct complex sequences of events in order to hone in on vital forensic evidence and intelligence, with which to identify offenders and bring them to justice. They also use specialist equipment and techniques to record crime scenes and capture evidence for further analysis and presentation at court. A typically day will involve examining scenes of burglary and downloading mobile phones for digital evidence, but they are always ready to deploy to the most heinous of crimes with a moment’s notice. Although you will be employed by Avon and Somerset Constabulary, you will cover the whole of the South West region and work regularly in neighbouring force areas.

CSIs make a difference by bringing logic and order to chaotic crime scenes, working alongside other experts and specialists in order to capitalise upon all available evidence and working closely with police investigation teams to facilitate the successful prosecution of offenders. CSIs also support victims of crime directly by providing reassurance and crime prevention advice. The regional CSI team plays a pivotal role in bringing offenders to court, for providing justice to victims of crime and for making communities safer across the South West of England.

In this role, your main responsibilities will be: 

• Take responsibility for gathering information from relevant sources to ascertain the circumstances of incidents.
• Conduct risk assessments of scenes and forensic evidence and to ensure that all safety precautions are taken and documented.
• You will attend volume, serious and major crime scenes to conduct scientific investigations with the objective of identifying, recording and recovering potentially valuable physical, trace and digital forensic evidence and intelligence information.
• Obtain appropriate sample materials from persons for further examination, elimination and recording purposes in accordance with documented procedures
• Accurately maintain comprehensive computer and written records, to record activity, track exhibits, to meet departmental and statutory requirements relating to the storage and retention of physical evidence and information.
• Ensure that contact with members of the public positively contributes to providing customer satisfaction and confidence in the police service. Provide relevant crime prevention advice in order to contribute to the reduction of crime.

Skills, experience and qualifications required: 

• You must be trained to the accredited national standards as a Crime Scene Investigator (Stage 1) or an A Level in science (or equivalent) and experience of employment within an investigative or scientific role.
• You will be able to demonstrate knowledge and experience of all CSI activities in volume, serious and major crime investigation.
• You must also have experience of making and maintaining Restricted records (written and computer) and a good understanding of legislation governing information security.
• You should have experience of gathering and analysing data and will demonstrate excellent attention to detail and accuracy with a good understanding of the importance of integrity and continuity within Criminal Justice.
• You must have good interpersonal skills and have experience of communicating face to face and over the telephone.
• You must have experience of dealing effectively with a diverse range of people and have the ability to present facts and opinions accurately, clearly and concisely in both written and oral formats.

Please note that there will also be a suitability bank for 12 months – all future recruitment for this vacancy across the South West Forensic region will be recruited from the successful candidates of this process.

Terms and Conditions (salary for appointment based in these locations)

Avon & Somerset - scale 6 to SO1 - £26,865 - £31,725 – please see the Avon & Somerset job description attached.

Dorset – Scale E- £23,817 - £32,673 – please see the Dorset job description attached.

Devon & Cornwall – Grade 8 - £36,369 - £40,662 (Please note that the salary for this role is indicative and will be subject to the Force’s Job Evaluation process at some point in the future. Should the salary for the role decrease as a result of the Job Evaluation process, the successful candidate, if appointed before the job evaluation process has concluded, may be eligible for pay protection in accordance with the policy, procedure and provisions in effect at that time) – please see Devon & Cornwall job description (role profile) attached.

Wiltshire – Scale W7 to W9 - £25,684 - £33,054, please see the Wiltshire job description attached.

To be eligible to apply for this role you must have a 3 year ‘checkable history’ in the UK – ideally this means that you would have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years.

Work on a bank or public holiday as part of the normal working week will be compensated in line with conditions of service.

Does this sound like the role for you? Click the link below to apply.