Scene of Crime Officer

THE DOOR: ENTRY DIFFICULTY TODAY, graded A (easy) to E (extremely hard). A Careermash rule-of-thumb index built from our AI exposure index and the job's moat class. It is not a forecast and not a count of job openings.

AI EXPOSURE TODAY is a Careermash index from 0 to 100 of how exposed this job's everyday tasks are to AI today. We estimate it by matching published research on how people use AI to this job, usually by keyword or subject area, and we lower it where the work is protected (for example by physical, personal or legal requirements). It is not a direct measurement of how much people in this job use AI.

The role

As a scene of crime officer, you work with the police to investigate crimes. When a crime happens - like a theft, break-in or assault - you go to the scene and look for evidence. This might be fingerprints, blood, fibres from clothing, or broken objects. You carefully collect, photograph and package this evidence so it is safe and clean for scientists to test in the laboratory. Your work is very detailed - you need to be careful not to disturb or contaminate anything.

You work in all kinds of places - homes, shops, cars, streets - sometimes when it's dark or in bad weather. You use special equipment like cameras, swabs and test kits to record what you find. You also write clear notes about where you found each piece of evidence. Your work is important because good evidence can help police catch the right person and prove what happened. It can be upsetting sometimes, as crime scenes can show that people have been hurt, but you are helping to make sure justice is done.

Daily responsibilities

• Travelling to crime scenes such as homes, shops, cars or streets to begin an investigation.
• Searching the scene carefully for evidence like fingerprints, blood, fibres or broken objects.
• Taking detailed photographs of the scene and the evidence before anything is moved.
• Collecting and packaging evidence using swabs, test kits and special equipment so it stays clean.
• Writing clear notes that record exactly where each piece of evidence was found.
• Making sure the scene is preserved and nothing gets disturbed or contaminated.
• Passing evidence safely to laboratory scientists and updating the police on what you found.

Does a degree help here?

A UK education provides you with access to top-notch forensic science programs and hands-on training opportunities. You'll learn from experienced professionals and gain valuable skills that are highly regarded in the field, giving you a competitive edge in your career.