Criminal Justice Career Option: Crime Scene Examiner
Normally you'll work as part of the police investigation team. You may decide that a forensic scientist or other specialist also needs to be brought in. People commit crimes in every kind of place, so you'll investigate houses, offices, factories, open spaces and waterways. Sometimes it will be a road accident or perhaps the scene of a fire. So you'll need to be prepared for some pretty unpleasant and distressing sights.
There are three main elements to the work: photography, fingerprinting and forensic examination - you might specialise in just one of these. Whichever you do, you'll need to be extremely thorough and pay great attention to detail - you must be very observant. It also helps if you're keen on science.
For the photography, you use a range of cameras and video - you might photograph recovered stolen property, or suspects and victims (including dead bodies). This side of the work can mean following suspects, taking still photographs and video recordings. Later, you process the film, develop prints and prepare them for presentation in court.
For fingerprinting, for example at the scene of a burglary, you search for and 'lift' fingerprints using fingerprint powders, then photograph and record the evidence. You can also work in a fingerprint bureau, examining and comparing fingerprints.
Forensic examination means making a detailed search for physical evidence such as glass, paint, fibres and blood. As you collect these samples, you package and label the evidence carefully. You will also record anything like footwear marks or body fluid stains.
When you've finished, you write a report, and you may have to give expert testimony in court. This means you'll need good communication skills. What qualifications do I need?
* You can't normally start training as a crime scene examiner until your early twenties.
* You'll need at least three GCSEs (A-C), preferably including English, maths and a science subject, and some police forces will expect A levels, or sometimes a degree.
* Qualifications and experience in photography will come in useful, and some forces may require them. An NVQ in photography would be good for this.
* You'll have to pass a medical, and you'll need good eyesight, including normal colour vision. Police forces will also do a security check on your background and work history.