Page 35 - Choices Magazine - KS3 Issue 2

Salary Working Hours Skills

• Starting salaries for crime scene Full-time working hours are around 30 You’ll need to have: • motivation and be able to work
investigators are between £16,000 to 40 hours per week. Hours of work are • a careful and methodical approach on your own initiative, as well as
and £24,000, plus allowances. on a shift pattern, as you’ll need to to your work and be able to prioritise by following instruction
• Experienced crime scene respond to calls from the police to and take appropriate action • the ability to follow set procedures
investigators or crime scene attend scenes of crime 24 hours a day, • good attention to detail and keen and processes when submitting
managers can earn between seven days a week, all year round. observational skills for finding and evidence for consideration
£24,000 and £35,000, plus allowances. recording evidence • a respect for confidentiality at all times
• Senior crime scene investigators take on • strong analytical skills and and a trustworthy nature
greater responsibility and manage the an inquisitive approach • an understanding of health and safety
work of others. They can earn higher • the ability to work in a team and to guidelines and the diligence to follow
salaries of £30,000 to £40,000 or more. these at all times, and those set through
coordinate with other professionals
Income figures are intended as a guide only • the patience to be able to correctly the Forensic Submissions Policy
catalogue and store evidence • a flexible approach, with the ability to
• good written communication in order adapt to alternative approaches for
solving problems
Qualifications to write up reports accurately, for being • integrity and the commitment to
presented in court if necessary
You’ll usually need at least 5 GCSEs at You can complete specific qualifications • good verbal communication skills, uphold the values and ethical
grades 9-4 (A*-C) including maths, English, to be a crime scene investigator, such as as you’ll need to communicate with standards of the police service
and science, as well as an A-level in a those offered by the College of Policing. victims, witnesses, and investigators in • good physical fitness and accurate
laboratory-based science subject. These can be undertaken at the police criminal investigations colour vision
It isn’t mandatory to have a degree to force you work for. • technical ability to use digital and • good IT skills - for using Microsoft Office
be a crime scene investigator, but most A qualification in digital media such scientific equipment programs, such as Word and Excel,
recent applicants are graduates and this as photography could also be helpful, • the capacity to stay calm under and for using a forensic case
is more commonly becoming a deciding as you’ll need to gather photographic pressure and to cope with sometimes management system
factor for employers during selection. evidence and film at incidents you attend. distressing situations • a full driving licence, to get to incidents
A degree in one of the following quickly when you’re on call.
subjects could be advantageous:
• forensic science
• biological science
• chemistry
• criminology
• psychology.
35 | APRIL 2021

APRIL 2021 | 34