How much does a crime scene investigator earn salary

You will also be responsible for processing and categorizing evidence so that it can be used in criminal investigations. This could include collecting photographic evidence or physical samples from the scene, such as weapons, fingerprints, clothing, or biological evidence.

Crime scene investigators are sometimes known as crime scene officers or forensic scene investigators.

Responsibilities

As a crime scene investigator, you will need to:

• Respond to police calls to attend crime scenes
• Preserving the crime scene so that the evidence is accurate and does not become contaminated
• Work closely with the police (including the British Transport Police and Terrorism Unit), forensic scientists and other organizations such as the National Crime Agency
• Take the lead in finding evidence that may support a subsequent criminal case
• Photograph and record the incident you attend
• Use scientific methods to collect biological evidence
• Carefully record and catalog evidence found at a crime scene, such as blood, hair, or clothing fibers
• Examine crime scenes for latent fingerprints.
• Take evidence impressions, such as footprints or tire tracks
• write reports
• Attend court to give testimony as part of a trial process.

Salary

• Starting salaries for crime scene investigators range from $16,000 to $24,000, plus allowances.
• Experienced crime scene investigators or managers can earn between $24,000 and $33,000, plus allowances.
• Senior crime scene investigators take on increased responsibility and manage the work of others. They can earn higher salaries of $30,000 to $40,000 or more.

Employees can also benefit from the local government pension plan.

The revenue figures are only a guide.

working hours

Full-time work hours are around 30-40 hours per week. Work hours are on a shift pattern as you will be required to respond to police calls to crime scenes 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round.

Crime scene investigators and managers often work more regular hours without the need to work nights and weekends.

Part-time work, job sharing and flexible working hours are available in a variety of ways in the UK police forces.

what to expect

• You can attend incidents that can be upsetting and you will need to be able to stay on task despite difficult circumstances.
• The work is likely to be varied and you will need to be prepared to expect the unexpected. He will spend much of his time at the location of the scene under investigation, but he will return to the police station to store evidence and write reports of his findings.
• You will need to be prepared to work in different environments and will need to travel to incident scenes. Sometimes this will mean being in all weather conditions and in difficult and perhaps hostile situations.
• Evidence must be handled with care and prepared for laboratory testing by the forensic team. It is vital that time and location details are accurately recorded before evidence is passed to the laboratory for processing.
• To perform well in the role, you will need to have a passion for serving the public and understand the needs of different communities.

Ratings

You will typically need at least 5 GCSEs in grades 9-4 (A*-C), including Maths, English and Science, as well as an A level in a Laboratory Science subject.

A degree is not required to be a crime scene investigator, but most recent applicants are graduates and this is more commonly becoming a deciding factor for employers during selection. A degree in one of the following subjects could be advantageous:

• forensic science
• biological science
• Chemistry
• criminology
• Psychology.

You can complete specific qualifications to be a crime scene investigator, such as those offered by the College of Police. These can be done at the police force you work for.

A qualification in digital media such as photography could also be helpful as you will need to collect photographic evidence and film the incidents you attend.

skills

You will need to have:

• A careful and methodical approach to your work and being able to prioritize and take appropriate action
• Good attention to detail and strong observation skills to find and record evidence
• Strong analytical skills and an inquisitive approach
• The ability to work in a team and coordinate well with other professionals
• The patience to catalog and store evidence correctly
• Good written communication to write reports accurately, to be presented in court if necessary
• Good verbal communication skills as you will need to communicate with victims, witnesses and investigators in criminal investigations.
• Technical ability to use digital and scientific equipment
• The ability to remain calm under pressure and cope with sometimes distressing situations
• Motivation and being able to work on own initiative as well as following instructions
• The ability to follow established procedures and processes when presenting evidence for consideration
• Respect for confidentiality at all times and a trustworthy nature
• An understanding of, and diligence to follow, health and safety guidelines at all times, and those set forth through the Forensic Submissions Policy
• A flexible approach, with the ability to adapt to alternative approaches to solving problems
• Integrity and a commitment to uphold the values ​​​​and ethical standards of the police service
• Good physical condition and accurate color vision
• Good IT skills: to use Microsoft Office programs, such as Word and Excel, and to use a forensic case management system.
• A full driver’s license, to get to incidents quickly when on call.

work experience

It is not easy to find work experience specifically in the crime scene investigator role. This is primarily due to background screening and health and safety requirements, and the importance of being fully trained before you are assigned the responsibility of collecting evidence that can be used in a court of law.

Police-related work experience is definitely advantageous and you can get it in a number of ways, including working as a special police officer, volunteering, or through an internship program that could start exposing you to the tasks involved in crime scenes. worked.