Crime Scene Investigator (East/West Kent)

Location of Role: West & East Kent

Advert Closing Date: 26/12/2024

Starting Salary: £26,385.00 (pro-rata for part-time vacancies)

Part/Full Time: Full Time

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Other (see advert text)

Weekend/Evening Working: Yes

Are you looking to develop a career working alongside Police as a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)? Investigating a crime scene requires integrity, logic, resilience, natural curiosity, keen observation, and attention to detail. If you think you have what it takes, then this may be an ideal opportunity for you.

This advert is for entry level CSIs, however, the CSI Progression scheme we have in place offers a salary up to £45,591 (pro rata). We would welcome applications from individuals who have previously received training or are currently operational as a CSI and are looking to transfer to Kent. Starting salary for such individuals would be by negotiation of relevant transferable skills.

We are seeking individuals who are highly motivated with an investigative mind set and capable of displaying a high standard of problem-solving ability. You will need to be self-confident, capable of learning quickly, have good communication and interpersonal skills and be able to deal with a diverse range of people, delivering a high level of public service. You will need to present facts and opinions accurately, clearly, and concisely in written and oral formats.

As a CSI, it’s your role to gather forensic evidence from crime scenes that will ultimately lead to the detection and prosecution of criminals, enabling justice for victims of crime. You will be expected to attend all categories of crime scene from volume crime including burglary, vehicle crime and assaults, through to major/serious scenes including GBH, robbery, rape, and murder. You will be required to process these crime scenes, conducting scientific examinations with the objective of identifying, recording, and recovering physical and digital forensic evidence and intelligence information, while avoiding loss of evidence or contamination. You will also be required to give advice on scene preservation, packaging, and cordons.

You will need to compile accurate and comprehensive scene examination reports and complete all supporting documentation in an electronic manner. As part of the Criminal Justice process, you will be expected to produce statements detailing your examinations, and where required attend coroners, crown, or magistrates court to give evidence as a professional witness.

This role works in line with Quality Standards ISO 17020 and the Forensic Regulators Code of Practice; thus, you will also be required to evidence competency in your role and always adhere to the organisational quality standards. A significant level of admin and accurate record keeping will also require completion.

A high proportion of the role requires lone working; you will need to work independently on your own initiative; be able to prioritise and complete a high workload with motivation, problem-solve and make decisions in a fast-paced environment. Where required you will also need to work well as part of a team and under the direction of a Senior CSI or Crime Scene Manager, particularly at major or serious crime scenes.

The successful applicant must have the ability to communicate (in person or over the phone) with members of the public, complainants, or victims, often when they are distressed or potentially hostile, to establish the circumstances or a sequence of events.

This is a challenging role that can be both physically and mentally demanding, requiring strong personal resilience. Applicants must have and maintain a reasonable standard of physical health, mental health, and wellbeing, being agile and able to climb, bend and get into awkward places such as lofts, ditches etc. The role requires manual handling including the movement of equipment and cadavers; working at heights; working in confined spaces; lone working; driving long distances; working with chemical/biological hazards; working with firearms/ammunitions; working with equipment/machinery with potential to cause harm; working with disturbing evidence/observation of disturbing circumstances; working with vulnerable people; working in an environment with potential for conflict, violence, etc. and prolonged wearing of Personal Protective Equipment.

Meticulous attention to detail is required including good eyesight (with or without correction) to carry out detailed work.

You must be prepared to work in all weathers and sometimes under very challenging and pressurised conditions. This includes attendance at post-mortems, prisons, custody and/or other crimes that require a great deal of fortitude and maturity.

The post holder may be required to undertake other duties which are not necessarily specified on the role profile, but which are commensurate with the role.

Applicants will be required to provide elimination fingerprints and DNA samples for elimination purposes against Police and accredited Forensic Service Provider databases. Following a “Declaration of Health”, CSIs are subject to annual medical screening completed by an Occupational Health nurse.

Applicants must hold a full UK/European driving licence for manual vehicles and must have lived in the UK continuously for the past three years.

Training

Crime Scene Investigators are trained to high national standards working to strict regulations and procedures. The successful candidate will be provided with all the necessary training which will involve mentoring with qualified CSIs and equip you to carry out all types of scene examinations from volume through to major crime. You will also be trained in digital photography and how to accurately record scenes, whether day or night, using a Digital SLR camera.

The initial training course is delivered in two parts at our dedicated in-house training facility at Kent Police College, Maidstone. After completing each part, you will undergo tutoring, during which time you will be required to demonstrate competency in line with ISO 17020 requirements and as part of your Personal Development Portfolio (PDP). Once competent you will be able to examine scenes independently.

Part One of the initial CSI Training course is scheduled for 27th May to 4th July 2025 (inclusive) and successful candidates need to be available to attend the duration of this course.

A series of formal training courses and regular CPD will be provided to maintain and develop your skills as a Crime Scene Investigator in line with the CSI Progression scheme. Please note entry level candidates will be paid at the start of the salary range quoted within the advert (pro-rata for part-time vacancies).

Work pattern and remuneration

You will be expected to partake in a designated shift pattern, which includes weekends, working on average 37 hours per week between the hours 0700 to 2300. Work on a bank or public holiday as part of the normal working week will be compensated in line with conditions of service. The role also requires participation in an overnight on-call rota for serious and major crime, for which an on-call allowance is paid. You will be entitled to a generous annual leave allowance which increases with service, and you will be eligible to join the local government pension scheme.

Our Location

The vacancies are based at CSI Hubs/offices at West and East Kent; however deployments may cover the county of Kent. When required, we also provide CSI support to our collaborated force Essex Police.

What we are looking for

If you think this challenging and rewarding career is for you, please apply and tell us why, providing evidence and examples of the following Essential criteria within your application:

It is essential that you demonstrate a strong personal resilience (physical, MH & psychological) in dealing with incidents/scenes of a distressing nature, working under pressure and/or under challenging conditions.
It is essential that you have excellent interpersonal skills and can effectively communicate, negotiate and interact with other people across all levels (face to face, over the phone, written & computer).
Able to learn quickly, accepting feedback and correcting errors in performance is essential.
Good eyesight with or without correction is essential.
Full clean UK/European driving licence manual vehicles is essential.
Minimum of 5 GCSEs Grade C/4 or above including English, Mathematics and Science based subjects is essential.
Computer literate; conversant with a range of Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, MS Teams, Outlook and able to adapt to new technology is essential.

It would also be helpful if you evidence the following:

Current or previous experience as a Crime Scene Investigator.
Photographic qualifications and/or practical experience of photography using a Digital-SLR is desirable.
Demonstrate a high level of personal motivation, initiative and prioritisation, with both workload and completion of a high level of admin.
Able to work alone, with minimal supervision or as part of a team.
Able to problem solve and make decisions in a fast-paced environment.
Methodical and have a high level of attention to detail when undertaking your work.
Able to record information, facts and opinions accurately, with an understanding of the importance of integrity and continuity within Criminal Justice.
Able to follow instructions/Standard Operating Procedures.
Experience of dealing effectively with a diverse range of people, including those who may experience Mental Health challenges, be hostile, or present an intimidating demeanour.
Life experience and ability to use initiative to deal with any situation you are faced with.
The ability to gather, analyse and present facts and opinions accurately, clearly and concisely in written and oral formats, which would include giving evidence in court.
Demonstrates flexibility to working hours, has experience working shifts or being retained on duty beyond scheduled shift.
Has experience working in a public facing role, delivering a high level of public service.
A scientific degree or related equivalent qualification.
Experience or understanding of working within an ISO accredited environment or in line with Quality Standards is desirable.

For further information please contact Emma JENNINGS via email emma.jennings@kent.police.uk

Please ensure that within your application you evidence all the essential requirements associated with the role.

Kent Police offer incremental increases within this salary band, therefore the salary for this position will rise to a maximum of £30,453.00.

For the full job description please click here.

Your application for this role will be shortlisted on the content you provide within the “reason for application” question, within the application form itself. CV’s, covering letters or attachments are not included in the shortlist. Within your “reason for application” answer, please refer to any experience, skills, and abilities you feel you have that will make you suitable for this role, based on the role criteria stated in the job advert or job description. Please provide as much detail as possible as insufficient content may mean you do not meet the shortlisting criteria, however please note this question is limited to 9000 characters and this system will count spaces and blank lines as characters. This count may differ from the Microsoft Word word count function therefore you may wish to use a different online character counter to check the characters used.

All of our posts require a level of vetting and security clearance. During the recruitment process you will be sent vetting information forms to complete.

Kent Police and Essex Police welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, or employment status.

Please let us know if you require extra support at any stage of the application process, or for further information regarding this position, please email us at recruitment.business.services@ecis.police.uk stating ‘Application Support and Adjustments’ in the title of your email. Alternatively, you can call us on 01245 452833.

Where appropriate we will make adjustments to the selection process, working arrangements and/or the working environment provided it is reasonable in all the circumstances to do so.

This post is open to

British Citizens
Members of a European Economic Area (EEA) state who hold settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
Commonwealth citizens or foreign nationals (who are not British citizens or European Economic Area (EEA) state members) who have leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for an indefinite period that is free from restrictions.

All applicants (except those who have been serving abroad with the British Armed Forces) must have lived in the UK continuously for the past three years.

Essex Police and Kent Police are an equal opportunities employer. Communications may be recorded for monitoring purposes.