RE: Forensics
The Forensic Science Service Ltd or FSS, is a UK Government owned company and is the market leader in the supply of forensic science services to police forces in England and Wales. It is also a source of training, consultancy, and scientific support for overseas and private sector customers.
Forensic science covers a wide range of scientific disciplines. Its main function is to provide impartial, scientific evidence for use in courts of law. This is usually as a result of a police enquiry, where scientific evidence is needed to help the police with their investigations. This can include:
Scientists specialise in various areas of work because of the in-depth practical skills and knowledge required.
The specialities and grades are:
Laboratory Attendants
Perform a number of essential support roles within the laboratory. For this role, previous work experience in a laboratory environment would be an advantage.
Assistant Forensic Scientists
Working in the various areas of our business as described earlier, assistant forensic scientists undertake biology and chemistry-based analytical work. The role of an assistant is predominately laboratory based, so previous lab experience may be an advantage along with the necessary qualifications for this role. See entry level qualifications.
Forensic Scientists and Reporting Officers
Though still lab based, as a forensic scientist you may be required to attend crime scenes in an advisory capacity. As this role is senior to the assistants, you may also have some supervisory responsibility within the lab depending on your role and work area. Forensic scientists are primarily concerned with examining contact trace material associated with crimes, looking for evidence to link a suspect with a scene of crime. All forms of analysis are used and the main areas of work involve biology, chemistry, drugs and toxicology.
Forensic Scientist - Reporting Officers are trained to provide impartial scientific evidence for use in courts of law to support the prosecution or defence in criminal and civil investigations.
The FSS usually recruits trainee forensic scientists once a year around the summer/autumn period.
The qualifications for these grades/specialities are:
Assistant Forensic Scientist
Four GCSE passes (grades A-C), including either a science (preferably biology or chemistry) or mathematics as well as an 'A' level in a scientific subject (preferably biology or chemistry).
Trainee Forensic Scientist
A scientific degree, preferably biology or chemistry based with at least a 2.2 pass. Previous laboratory experience would also be beneficial.
Forensic Science Service staff who currently work at assistant forensic scientist level will require a scientific related degree in order to become a forensic scientist. Preferably this degree will be in a biology or chemistry related subject.
Further information will be found at:
http://www.forensic.gov.uk/index.htm
leonardo
RE: Forensics
Oh wow!!! Thanks for all that information.. it was really helpful.
Are you in forensics yourself? If so in what capacity?
Thanks again! 🙂
RE: Forensics
Glad to be of help, Mir!!! No, I am not in forensics, just a retired scientific civil servant who maintains a keen interest in science and technology.
leoanrdo
RE: Forensics
While I was serving with the Army, I spent several long tours in Northern Ireland where I was involved with NI Forensics. I was an Armourer in military service and ended up working with them on ballistics and they called me in for my weapons expertise.
There role was very interesting indeed and in one room there cabinets with 1 metre wide drawers, each containing dividers forming 2" square trays. They had a specimen bullet of every weapon in Northern Ireland for comparison purposes - it was a 'ballistic fingerprint'.
Whilst they had some quite sophisticated equipment, I became involved on a test to capture a bullet from a 12.7mm heavy machine gun called a 'DShK'. They used two dustbins strapped together, and filled with cotton wadding, to capture the bullet - improvisation is the mother of all invention!
There were some fundamentally clever people there and what they did was critical to the Police role. I'm sure today their activities have changed beyond all recognition to me, but it was an incredibly interesting association and I missed it when I had to leave the Province for 'pastures new'.
RE: Forensics
Bullets and Northern Ireland!!! I was 44 years examining inventions and one was a radar that, from three detected points on the bullet's trajectory, captured in real time,,, (it was a VERY fast radar),, determined the position of the shooter.
This was at the time that a soldier was reported killed every day in NI by snipper fire,, Almost over night, the death rate from the snippers, fell dramatically!!
Not all inventions had such an immediate beneficial result!!
leonardo