Forensic Recovery Technician

Salary: Band 6, £30,276 - £32,613 (Please note it is Northumbria Police policy to appoint at the beginning of the band)

Location: Peterlee

Hours/Contract: 37 hours per week, 12 month fixed term contract

Working for #TeamNP

Our purpose at Team NP is simple: to keep people safe and to fight crime. But it takes more than officers alone to do the job – and that’s where our 2,000-strong team of police staff and 200 volunteers come in.

As one of the largest police forces in England we have a huge variety of departments and specialisms offering you endless opportunities. From mentoring and coaching schemes and online soft skills courses to leadership development programmes; we’ll give you the support, training and time to carve out the career you always wanted.

As one of the top 50 UK inclusive employers and a disability confident employer, we promote a culture of respect in the workplace so everyone can feel seen, heard and valued.

Whether you’re a member of staff or a volunteer, you can also expect first-rate support to manage your health and wellbeing. With year-round events, a 24/7 welfare support hotline and a leading approach to neurodiversity, our initiatives enable you to be at your best.

Above all else, here at Team NP, we can offer you a career that is so much more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something that really matters.

Learn about our full benefits package

The role

Here at Northumbria Police, we think our region is amazing! It takes a great deal of people from different backgrounds, with diverse skills and experience to serve our force area effectively, think you have what it takes to help us make a difference? This could be the perfect time for you to join us in our Forensics Department as a Forensic Recovery Technician.

Our Forensic Services team offer advice and guidance on all forensics issues, supporting investigations and ensuring analysis is up to date and robust. The intelligence provided significantly drives our vision to deliver an outstanding police service. Within the team, we have an opportunity to join us as a Forensic Recovery Technician.

In this role you will search for and produce scientific evidence to aid the investigation of crime. You will be responsible for decision making and carrying out appropriate chemical enhancement techniques to develop fingerprint and footwear impressions on exhibits to support crime scene investigation and to contribute to operational policing objectives.

What you’ll do

Receive and process exhibits – Ensure accurate documentation, maintain security and integrity, and liaise with Crime Scene Investigations to resolve any issues.
Evaluate and prioritise evidence – Check quality and relevance of submissions, allocate priorities, and advise officers in line with policy.
Develop and photograph latent marks – Select appropriate techniques and carry out chemical treatments to recover fingerprints and footwear impressions.
Attend crime scenes when required – Recover high-quality fingerprint and footwear evidence to support investigations.
Maintain forensic quality standards – Assist with audits, validation exercises, and compliance with accreditation requirements.
Prepare evidence for court – Produce reports and attend court to provide expert testimony when necessary.

Sound interesting? For further information, and to support your application, please view the job description

What you’ll bring

Degree or equivalent academic qualification in a relevant discipline (Forensic Science) or demonstrable vocational experience of working in a laboratory environment.
The ability to plan and manage a busy workload
The ability to work calmly and accurately when under pressure
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to adapt these to various stakeholders
A keen eye for detail and accuracy – you should be able to make decisions efficiently and accurately
The ability to switch between working independently and within a team
You’ll also need to have a high level of integrity and confidentiality as you will be dealing with material of a sensitive nature.

We know it's important for you to feel that you're not only part of a great team, but part of a community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, and their talents are fully utilised. Appointments are based on merit alone.

Interested to learn more? For further information about the role please contact Kendra Mark (Fingerprint and Footwear Manager) by email at kendra.mark@northumbria.police.uk

What we offer

26 days’ leave (increasing to 30 days for 5 years+ service) plus 8 bank holidays
NHS Fleet Solutions Car Lease Scheme
Enhanced maternity, shared parental and adoption leave
Flexi time - allowing you to fit your working hours around your individual needs
Fantastic market-leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution
Corporate travel schemes – local rail, bus services and metro discounts
Access to private healthcare and eye test vouchers
Discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets
We’ve invested in extensive paid sick leave, trained mental health first aiders on-site, an employee advice service for the times you need that additional support.
Access to gyms in some stations
Sports & Social Club – join our thriving sports scene at Team NP and enjoy further exclusive discounts on days out and travel
Cycle to work scheme
Opportunity to volunteer in local community

We are committed to building a dynamic, agile workplace where meaningful connection are key. For roles designated as agile or home-based, employees will work from a Force site at least once a week, with two days recommended. Hiring managers will be happy to discuss how this works in practice at interview stage. This approach helps build strong relationships, supports wellbeing, and fosters collaboration across teams.

Just so you know

Our application form will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role of a Forensic Recovery Technician with #TeamNP. To help support your application research what makes us tick here at Northumbria, the role you’re applying for and the values and behaviours that contribute.

Use of AI in Applications: At Northumbria Police, we embrace innovative technologies to enhance our recruitment process. We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While AI can be a valuable resource, we encourage applicants to ensure their submissions accurately reflect their personal qualifications, experiences, and skills. Our selection process includes thorough evaluations to verify the authenticity and suitability of all applications. We value genuine and thoughtful responses that showcase your unique strengths and perspectives.

The recruitment process will consist of the initial application form followed by a face to face interview and a brief exercise. Interviews will be conducted week commencing 15th December. Just so you know, you can save your application and come back to it any time prior to the closing date on the advert.

We are proud members of the Business Disability Forum, with whom we collaborate with to improve the lives of disabled employees. We are also a Disability Confident Employer, therefore if you demonstrate that you meet the minimum criteria for this role as stated in the advert, we will progress your application and offer you an interview.

If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process (for example we can arrange extra time for tests or provide a sign language interpreter) You can get in touch with us via careers@northumbria.police.uk for any support regarding the application process. Please provide us with plenty of notice so we can ensure your visit goes smoothly.

If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Management Vetting (MV) form and Biometric Vetting (BV), therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 5 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information, and references.

Terms of appointment

This is a fixed term role subject to a six-month probationary period.

If you are successful in your application, you will have a six-month probation period with us where you will be unable to apply for any other post advertised internally or externally.

Please note if you are interested in applying for this secondment opportunity, please discuss this with your Line Manager and gain agreement prior to applying.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.