Fingerprint Bureau Team Leader - Herts
An exciting opportunity has arisen within Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire’s Scientific Support Unit.
ISO accredited fingerprint examination work is carried out from a tri-force unit based at Hertfordshire Constabulary Headquarters in Welwyn Garden City. The unit is primarily responsible for analysing, comparing, evaluating, and verifying fingerprints and crime scene marks and utilises IDENT1, the national fingerprint system.
A Vacancy has arisen for the role of Fingerprint Bureau Team Leader who will be responsible for the supervision and management of all unit staff.
Applicants will need to collaborate closely with existing Team Leaders and demonstrate a sound understanding of the requirements of ISO 17025 and The Forensic Science Regulator’s Codes of Conduct and Practice, conduct final checking of casework and the preparation and presentation of fingerprint evidence for Court.
The successful applicant will conduct and manage regular audits, quality control measures and ensure that the BCH Bureau remains compliant with the agreed quality management standards within BCH. In addition, you will be required to carry out volume casework and where required attend crime scenes and mortuaries to complete effective fingerprint examination and recovery.
Applicants will need to be experienced Fingerprint practitioners and have successfully completed nationally recognised training in fingerprint examination.
The role currently attracts both a weekend working allowance equating to two additional spinal column points, and market rate supplement, currently an additional £3,987, both of which will be added on completion/confirmation of training/competency.
We would like to hear from anyone with the confidence and professional attitude necessary to undertake the role and duties of a Fingerprint Bureau Team Leader as detailed in the Role Profile.
We are looking for self-motivated individuals to join our busy team, have good communication and interpersonal skills, an eye for detail, and the resilience to keep trying even when faced with challenging and complex situations.
The successful applicant will have a good standard of education, ideally in a science related discipline with proven skills in numeracy and literacy and be able to comply with the entry requirements of the role profile.
If this is you and you can perform to the highest standards whilst under pressure, we would be interested to hear from you please read the job description and role profile.
Starting salary is dependent on experience and employing Force.
This position is a Herts A5 post and the salary range is £40,383 - £50,949 (additional discretionary pay point included)
If you have the required skills and would like to discuss this further, please contact John Howe – Fingerprint Services Manager by e-mail: john.howe@herts.police.uk
Additional Advert Information
- Internal Applicants
To apply for this role, internal applicants must have successfully completed their probationary period.
If you qualify as an internal candidate within the advertising force, you may upload either your CV or the internal role summary form attached to this advert.
- Vetting Process
Please note that, as part of the vetting process, the BCH Vetting Unit may need to contact your current line manager for a Supervisor Appraisal. This requirement aligns with the 2025 National Guidelines for Vetting (APP 6.5.18).
Examples of when this may apply include:
- Transferring to another force
- Renewing vetting clearance
- Moving into a role requiring MV clearance (even if you currently hold MV clearance)
- Moving into or working in a role involving close contact with vulnerable individuals
If any of the above apply to you, please expect your line manager to be contacted when you submit your vetting application.
- Redeployment and Redundancy
This vacancy is open to employees at risk of redundancy and will remain available to redeployees until a final offer has been agreed and accepted.
Redeployees at risk of redundancy will take priority over all other applicants at any stage of the recruitment process. If successful, redeployees will remain on their home force’s terms and conditions.
- Role Profile
We recommend downloading and saving a copy of the role profile, as it will no longer be accessible once the advert closes.
- Commitment to Inclusion
As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to be themselves. We provide workplace adjustments wherever needed so that all colleagues can thrive.
If you have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the role, you will be guaranteed an interview under the Offer an Interview Scheme.
Please note: This role has been identified as high-risk in relation to potential DNA contamination within forensic processes. As such, successful candidates will be required to provide a DNA mouth swab and Fingerprint elimination sample as part of their pre-employment checks.
The sample will be used to conduct a speculative search against our database and then solely for contamination elimination purposes and held on a secure elimination database in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR.
Provision of this sample is a condition of employment for roles identified as high-risk.