Forensic Collision Investigator
Prospective officers and staff must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members of the public, and that therefore their right to privacy can be fettered in certain circumstances. This is to ensure that members of the police are fully aware and accountable for the unique powers entrusted to them and the standards of professional behaviour they swear to uphold.
We invite staff members from within West Midlands Police to apply for the role of Forensic Collision Investigator (FCI), working within the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit (FCIU).
We also invite external candidates who are already qualified and experienced as FCI’s willing to transfer into West Midlands Police FCIU.
FCIU is based within the Forensic Services Department at Ridgepoint House, Bromford Lane, Washwood Heath, Birmingham.
FCIU is part of Forensic Services and attend over 100 collisions a year that unfortunately occur within West Midlands that are deemed either life-threatening or pronounced fatal, or where life-changing injuries have occurred. FCIU is made up of police officers and staff who attend live collision scenes involving motor vehicles, conducting technical and specialist investigations, testing, and testing and analysis, and assimilating all other available evidence in order to produce comprehensive and robust expert reports.
It is a 365/24/7 operational role, with FCIU currently hosting a 3x3x3 shift pattern which will include a 28% shift allowance:
Three early turn shifts of 07:00 to 15:00 hours
Three late turn shifts of 15:00 to 00:00 hours
Three rest days
There is an on-call rota for scene attendance from 00:00 x 07:00hrs (prior to early shifts)
FCIU largely works with its partner the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU), with both departments primarily tasked with investigating the most serious offences under the Road Traffic Act, such as Causing Death by Dangerous Driving or Careless Driving.
Some of the skills and responsibilities needed for which training, and support will be provided:
Standard Plus Driving Grade for scene attendance and application of dynamic vehicle testing
Communicating with emergency services, partner agencies, experts, CPS and the Courts
Photography skills for scene recording
Using 3D Laser Scan surveying equipment to map and virtually reconstruct scenes for analysis
Examining collision vehicles for damage and evidence of road worthiness and defects
Conduct simulated emergency braking and record data
Work within a regulated framework in compliance with national police and forensic standards
Developing and sharing investigative strategies with colleagues, and partners such as SCIU
Maintaining logs to record hypotheses, methods and rationales for following lines of inquiry
Analysing video footage to determine vehicle speed and comment on vehicle dynamics
Using mathematical principles to work out vehicle speeds from physical evidence
Interpreting vehicle telemetry to map vehicle movement and remark on driver inputs
Computer skills using common software programmes and specialist software
To fully qualify and gain independence an FCI must complete a University Certificate in Professional Development (UCPD) in Collision Investigation, and later a Certificate in Higher Education. It is a mixture of online learning and occasional residential courses, and covers theory and practical learning.
Once qualified an FCI will learn to prepare and produce reports of their findings that assist in seeking charges where criminal culpabilities appear present, or providing answers to the family of deceased motorists through the Coroner’s Court where either no criminal case is identified, nor can be pursued.
Any investigation into death involving use of a motor vehicle would usually require FCIU to deploy and report upon, meaning working with partners such as Homicide, Professional Standards Department, IOPC, and Health & Safety Executive.
If you have good driving skills, enjoy learning about driving, driver behaviour, vehicle dynamics, and the rules of the road, if you like the idea of using the latest technology and computer programmes in combination with examining collision scenes, looking for physical evidence to gain an understanding of the factors that led to the impact, if you like the idea of analysing evidence such as accounts from drivers and witnesses, video footage, or vehicle telematics, and if you have a good grasp of maths and enjoy thinking, discussing and writing about your investigations, the role of FCI could be for you.
If you are thinking of applying and wish to know more, please contact Sergeant Darren Brindley or Inspector Khosa at Forensic Services Department.
Essential to application
Category B (car) driving licence
Good maths and English skills, with evidence of GCSE qualifications or equivalent
Desirable skills
Category A (motorcycle), C (lorries) & D (buses), or a willingness to attempt to learn and qualify in at least one of these categories
What to expect on the day of interview
A 45-minute interview
A short maths test to understand your current level and your potential to develop
Vetting
Successful applicants will be required to pass Recruitment Vetting and Counter Terrorism Clearance scrutiny prior to commencing their role, this will include a full background & financial disclosure as part of the vetting process.
Medical
Appointment to this role will be dependent upon successfully medical checks, which may include a drugs test.
Benefit Statement
By choosing to join West Midlands Police you will receive an enhanced benefits package including:
• Fair remuneration with progression opportunities and access to a very competitive pension scheme.
• Enhanced annual leave in addition to public holiday entitlements.
• Discounts across travel, parking, daily costs of living and leisure activities.
• A comprehensive wellbeing package including 24/7 support, free eye tests and flu jabs.
West Midlands Police is a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions. As part of our commitment we operate a ‘Disability Confident Interview Scheme’ - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.
It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example: in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non-disabled applicants.