I spoke briefly about the training course provided by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) in my previous posts.
I have been to, and returned from the course, the dates of which will remain unknown to allow some anonymity.
The NPIA delivers a number of courses to forces across the UK and even some International forces. Before the implementation of the NPIA's training input for CSI's, each force would deliver their own input. This was beneficial to understanding local policies and procedures however there would be regional differences in the service provided. This was recognised by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabularies (HMIC) and a recommendation was that CSIs should attend a National training course before becoming competent in the role.
Older CSI's or SOCOs (some forces still use this name) would attend a nine week residential course and become full CSIs when they left, meaning they could attend all volume crime (burglaries and theft etc) as well as all major crime (murder, rape, serious assaults and so on).
The new training input is divided into two courses, a five and four week residential course. Once CSI's have attended the five week course they are competent to perform the role of a Volume Crime Scene Investigator. There is then a recommended period of six months where these skills can be implemented in a CSI's own force area before they return to complete the four week course. Once this has been completed, the CSI is then competent to attend major scenes alone. This new approach is known as a modular course, consisting of two modules.
Harperley Hall is the NPIA's Forensic Centre and is based in County Durham just outside of a aptly named town of Crook. The centre is equipped with ten classrooms, a state of the art laboratory, conference rooms for one hundred and twenty people, accommodation for eighty people and a practical training block.
The practical training block (PTB) is a complete mock set of a real street. The street is home to a bar, a travel agents, a Dominos Pizza shop, a newspaper office and twelve identical bedrooms. Outside the shops is a road, complete with pavements, yellow lines, street signs and cars. The PTB is where CSIs are able to put into practise what they have been taught through classroom input from the instructors.
The course is well planned and prepared. Most of the instructors have performed the role of CSI for a number of years in forces across the country and now deliver the training to new CSIs.
As I have previously blogged, before attending the course, each student has to complete a pre-course workbook. This workbook encourages attachments to various departments within each force. This allows the CSIs to understand how their force performs certain tasks and the policies and procedures employed in their particular force. The workbook also aims to allow a basic understanding of photography and forensic recovery. This allows each student to be at the same level of understanding before the course starts so their knowledge can be developed at the same rate.
We covered fingerprinting techniques, footwear impression recovery, photography, DNA recovery, approaching scenes, preserving evidence and scenes, documenting findings and closing scenes. We also received input on how to obtain the most information surrounding a scene as possible by investigative interviewing of witnesses.
As CSIs we will undoubtedly have to attend court to give evidence during our career. During the course we attend two mock court sessions where the evidence we recovered at a scene was questioned by a defence and prosecution barrister. This was particularly interesting and made everyone nervous!
The input covered all of the skills required to successfully examine a scene and recover evidence. I'd love to go into detail about this but wouldn't want to give too much away and make it easier for people to minimise the evidence they leave at scenes!
If you have any specific questions surrounding the course, please ask and I will respond.
How to be a CSI?
People often ask me what experience, qualifications and training is required for the role of CSI in the UK.
Each Police force will advertise CSI vacancies as and when they become available. The role is very popular and as a result will attract many more applicants than other vacancies may. When I applied for my role, there were over six hundred applications.
It is important to understand the role and exactly what it entails. Many people have ideas about the role thanks to many popular television series, but I'd recommend the role be researched to understand what is fact and what is fiction.
Most vacancies can be found on the Internet, websites such as http://www.allpolicejobs.co.uk/ and Police force's own websites will advertise the roles.
Applicants should have the following:
GCSEs, A-Levels or Equivalent
Some forces ask for basic GCSE's which should include English, Maths and Science. A good grade in Science will be a great benefit.
Degree
Some Universities now offer courses in Crime Scene Investigation and Forensic Science. Qualifications in such subjects will obviously help with your understand of the role and it;s demands. However, it is important to remember that a Degree alone will not guarantee you a career as a CSI and many CSIs do not have Degrees in the subject.
Photography
As the role will involve a lot of photography, a qualification in photography or experience will be an advantage over candidates without camera knowledge. Most forces now use digital cameras, so it is important to understand how to use them.
Communication
Once competent, CSI's often work alone and will visit most crime scenes without a crew mate. It is therefore important to be able to communicate effectively with people you haven't met before. Most people you will meet would have recently been a victim of crime so it is important to be sensitive and diplomatic.
Attention to Detail
A CSI will be expected to interpret and notice things that others do not. Attention to detail is imperative and can be the difference to piecing together what has happened a scene successfully or not.
Driving Licence
You will be expected to drive to Crime Scenes and will require a full UK or EU driving Licence.
The NPIA
The National Policing Improvement Agency instruct a total of 9 weeks residential training for all CSIs in UK Home forces and Non Geographical forces such as the Ministry of Defence Police and British Transport Police.
Completion of this course is often requested when a vacancy arises. This would obviously only be relevant to those who have previously been CSIs or are currently employed by another force.
Future Blog entries will include the content of the course provided by the NPIA.
Experience
It would be useful to have an understanding of the Criminal Justice System and in particular Policing in the UK. Police forces have many roles for staff members that are not sworn officer roles and would give you the experience you may need. The role of Special Constable is a great way to gain experience that many employers would value to no end.
See http://www.policespecials.co.uk/ or http://www.policecoulyou.co.uk/ for more information.
During your time as a CSI you can expect to see many things that may be disturbing or emotional. There may be times when you are the first person into a scene where someone has been fatally wounded or injured. Sometimes you will see things that maybe no one you know has ever seen. It is important to be able to deal with these things, professionally and without being attached emotionally. Modern Police forces have fantastic support networks and will provide any support required to it's staff.
Please, if I have missed something, reply via a comment and I will update to include an answer for you.
I hope this helps.
CSI Guy
Each Police force will advertise CSI vacancies as and when they become available. The role is very popular and as a result will attract many more applicants than other vacancies may. When I applied for my role, there were over six hundred applications.
It is important to understand the role and exactly what it entails. Many people have ideas about the role thanks to many popular television series, but I'd recommend the role be researched to understand what is fact and what is fiction.
Most vacancies can be found on the Internet, websites such as http://www.allpolicejobs.co.uk/ and Police force's own websites will advertise the roles.
Applicants should have the following:
GCSEs, A-Levels or Equivalent
Some forces ask for basic GCSE's which should include English, Maths and Science. A good grade in Science will be a great benefit.
Degree
Some Universities now offer courses in Crime Scene Investigation and Forensic Science. Qualifications in such subjects will obviously help with your understand of the role and it;s demands. However, it is important to remember that a Degree alone will not guarantee you a career as a CSI and many CSIs do not have Degrees in the subject.
Photography
As the role will involve a lot of photography, a qualification in photography or experience will be an advantage over candidates without camera knowledge. Most forces now use digital cameras, so it is important to understand how to use them.
Communication
Once competent, CSI's often work alone and will visit most crime scenes without a crew mate. It is therefore important to be able to communicate effectively with people you haven't met before. Most people you will meet would have recently been a victim of crime so it is important to be sensitive and diplomatic.
Attention to Detail
A CSI will be expected to interpret and notice things that others do not. Attention to detail is imperative and can be the difference to piecing together what has happened a scene successfully or not.
Driving Licence
You will be expected to drive to Crime Scenes and will require a full UK or EU driving Licence.
The NPIA
The National Policing Improvement Agency instruct a total of 9 weeks residential training for all CSIs in UK Home forces and Non Geographical forces such as the Ministry of Defence Police and British Transport Police.
Completion of this course is often requested when a vacancy arises. This would obviously only be relevant to those who have previously been CSIs or are currently employed by another force.
Future Blog entries will include the content of the course provided by the NPIA.
Experience
It would be useful to have an understanding of the Criminal Justice System and in particular Policing in the UK. Police forces have many roles for staff members that are not sworn officer roles and would give you the experience you may need. The role of Special Constable is a great way to gain experience that many employers would value to no end.
See http://www.policespecials.co.uk/ or http://www.policecoulyou.co.uk/ for more information.
During your time as a CSI you can expect to see many things that may be disturbing or emotional. There may be times when you are the first person into a scene where someone has been fatally wounded or injured. Sometimes you will see things that maybe no one you know has ever seen. It is important to be able to deal with these things, professionally and without being attached emotionally. Modern Police forces have fantastic support networks and will provide any support required to it's staff.
Please, if I have missed something, reply via a comment and I will update to include an answer for you.
I hope this helps.
CSI Guy
Update
Thanks to those who have followed my blog so far, I know it is still early days and there are only a small number of posts but it is pleasing to know people appreciate reading it.
I have been in my force now for just under six months. In this time I have had to complete a workbook. The workbook consisted of 11 modules. Each module concentrated on a specific subject or department within the Police or Criminal Justice System.
For example, I completed attachments with CID, the Intelligence Unit and the Fingerprint Bureau. I was required to complete a workbook for each department which confirmed my understanding of each topic.
Early in 2010 I will be attending my training at a national training centre with the National Police Improvment Agency (NPIA)
There will be othe CSIs from other forces on the course also. The course is a five week residential course. Once I have completed this I will be expected to work towards another workbook and attend colume crime scenes alone for approximately six months. Once I complete the second workbook I will return to the NPIA for a further four weeks, after which I can attend major crime scenes alone when required.
I am very much looking forward to attending my training and will keep you all updated whilst I am there. You can find out more here.
CSI Guy
I have been in my force now for just under six months. In this time I have had to complete a workbook. The workbook consisted of 11 modules. Each module concentrated on a specific subject or department within the Police or Criminal Justice System.
For example, I completed attachments with CID, the Intelligence Unit and the Fingerprint Bureau. I was required to complete a workbook for each department which confirmed my understanding of each topic.
Early in 2010 I will be attending my training at a national training centre with the National Police Improvment Agency (NPIA)
There will be othe CSIs from other forces on the course also. The course is a five week residential course. Once I have completed this I will be expected to work towards another workbook and attend colume crime scenes alone for approximately six months. Once I complete the second workbook I will return to the NPIA for a further four weeks, after which I can attend major crime scenes alone when required.
I am very much looking forward to attending my training and will keep you all updated whilst I am there. You can find out more here.
CSI Guy
CSI: USA
CSI: USA
I arrived at 2250 hours after a hard day riding roller coaster after roller coaster at a large USA Theme Park. I managed to squeeze in a few hours sleep after dinner. We followed a couple of Police vehicles into the rear yard, there was a church bus type vehicle behind us.
The Police Department car park was buzzing with activity. It was the shift change time. In the USA, Police Officers are allocated their own vehicle and take it home at the end of the shift.
I found an Officer in the car park and told him who I was and who I was there to meet. He took me to the CSI Department to meet Frank, Merissa and Jerry. Frank is the supervisor and Merissa and Jerry are Crime Scene Technicians (CSTs)
I arrived at 2250 hours after a hard day riding roller coaster after roller coaster at a large USA Theme Park. I managed to squeeze in a few hours sleep after dinner. We followed a couple of Police vehicles into the rear yard, there was a church bus type vehicle behind us.
The Police Department car park was buzzing with activity. It was the shift change time. In the USA, Police Officers are allocated their own vehicle and take it home at the end of the shift.
I found an Officer in the car park and told him who I was and who I was there to meet. He took me to the CSI Department to meet Frank, Merissa and Jerry. Frank is the supervisor and Merissa and Jerry are Crime Scene Technicians (CSTs)
I was surprised to see that there were only two CSTs and one Supervisor on a night shift in this large City.
There are three shifts in this department, an early shift, a late shift and a night shift. This provides maximum resilience for any incidents that may take place. CSTs are aligned to a shift permanently, so a CST who is on nights, will always do nights.
At the moment, in the UK most CSI departments do not work night shifts and instead have CSIs on standby over night. There is mention in my force of night shift working, which will negate the need to be on standby. I am quite looking forward to it, this should allow CSIs to plan their free time better. At the moment, if you are on standby, you may or may not be called out.
Unfortunately, like most public authorities, Frank's office has seen some budget cuts and job losses. His shift use to have five. One thing is sure though, crime will continue regardless of the economic problems. Some would say that crime increases in times of economic turn down.
Frank showed me around the department.
Through the report writing room was where the evidence lockers were. There were lockers of various sizes, some with padlocks and some without. Those with padlocks had evidence contained within. When a CST recovers items from a scene, it is stored within these lockers between examinations. Each time the locker is opened, it is logged and recorded for continuity purposes.
Through the evidence room was a ballistics room, where found and seized guns are test fired. This use to be done by an external agency, but Frank's department has recently taken delivery of the equipment which enables them to do this.
Then there was a corridor with various rooms along it's length. The CSI department here is based where the firing range use to be, this explains it's odd layout.
The next room was the 'Ninhydrin Room' where various chemicals were used to develop fingerprints and other crime scene marks. Ninhydrin is the most common chemical used to develop prints. I will blog about Ninhydrin in my next couple of posts - it's interesting! Also in this room was a superglue fuming cabinet. Superglue can be used for some surfaces to develop fingerprints and other marks.
The last room we looked in was the powdering room. When items are recovered from a scene they are developed here using various powders and brushes to find fingerprints.
I was interested to see that the CSTs here do the chemical work themselves. In my force we have a separate department who will take items suitable for chemical development and treat them on behalf of the CSIs. This includes Ninhydrin, superglue, soot removal, metal disposition and other dyes.
After the tour of the department Frank asked me to sign a waiver. The waiver was only one side of A4, but in short, I was signing to waive any rights if I was injured or killed whilst on the ride along with him.........
Shortly after this, we went to look around the vehicles. The CSTs drive marked Police vehicles. The only difference on the CSI department's vehicles to the Police Officer's vehicles is the addition of 'Crime Scene Unit' The vehicles have light bars, but with red and white lights. In this State, only Police Officers use blue lights, the Fire, Ambulance and other emergency vehicles (e.g Crime Scene Unit) use white and red lights.
The vans are large Fords, big enough to hold all the kit a CST may need and any evidence they may recover. In my force, we drive small unmarked vans.
I asked why they had marked vans. Frank explained that there was a debate as to whether they should be marked or not. Merissa said she preferred mark vehicles, and went on to explain that as she is often single crewed, she feels safer knowing that people know she works for the City's Police Department. Some of the areas she drives are rough, car jackings happen a lot. If she was in an unmarked van she may be victim to a car jacking, whereas, you'd hope that most offenders would avoid car jacking a marked Police vehicle!
Frank took me out in his vehicle, this was a 4x4 and was still marked, with the addition of 'Supervisor' on the front wing. I approached the left hand side of the vehicle and Frank pointed out that the passenger seat was on the other side in the USA! It was late...
Frank took me on a tour of the City and showed me the areas where most of his work is carried out. Like here in the UK, some areas suffer more crime than others
We visited a number of places, one of which was the Medical Examiner's (ME) office. The ME's office was brand new, the offices had only been open a few weeks. The ME's office is where post mortems are carried out.
Sadly, the evening passed without event. Not a single job came in that required the CSI department. It was however a great pleasure to meet some colleagues from outside the UK. I hope to continue the relationship and keep in touch with each member of Frank's shift.
I was especially thankful for the breakfast at Denny' and the starbucks coffee!
Crown Court (2)
As part of my training I am expected to undertake a number of attachments with various departments within the police and criminal justice system.
My most recent training day was at the local Crown Court.
I arrived at the court at 1000. As I approached the court I could see six fluorescent jackets outside. Three on each side of the automatic doors. I hadn't seen police officers outside a court before. I have attended Magistrates Court a number of times due to a previous role.
I thought that maybe there was an important case on today that required a police presence. As I entered the main hall way I was met by an airport style security system. There were three metal detectors and approximately three security officers at each gate. I emptied my pockets and put my car keys, mobile and wallet in the basket and walked through, it beeped. One of the guards scanned my person with a metal detector wand. I collected my belongings and continued inside.
There were a further four officers and another officer in a navy shirt, with a firearm.
It appears that security at this court is important.
I didn't know any of the officers in the court, my force is quite large and I may not even meet them again.
I made my way to the 'CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK'. I found it quite amusing that the court refer to it's users as 'Customers'.
There were two people ahead of me. One appeared to be a defendant and was trying to find out if his case was being heard today or not. He seemed agitated. The second was a middle aged women in wet weather wear and was pulling a small case on wheels. It appeared she came to view a case from the public gallery.
When it was my turn, I spoke through the toughened glass to the elderly female behind the counter and explained who I was and that I wanted to watch the case being heard in Court 8. She asked for my ID and pointed me in the right direction.
I wanted to watch the case being heard in Court 8 as I had spoken to a Witness Care Officer (who works for the police, and deals with warning witnesses etc for court) and she explained that one of her cases was surrounding a death by dangerous charge. I expected this to be an interesting case.
I walked up two flights of stairs to the first floor.
I sat down on the galvanized metal bench outside Court 8. The whole building was really impressive. It was a very grand building. It appeared to be a very old building, although maintained very well. The floor looked like marble. The hall way was lined with large columns.
A gentleman sat two seats away from me. I'm not sure why people don't sit on the seat next to other people but nearly always leave a gap. It turned out that this gentleman was the defendant in the case I was watching.
There were many people hurrying around the halls, going up and down the stairs and getting in and out of the lift. There was a clock approximately four foot in diameter about two feet off the ground on the wall. It seemed to jerk back and forth when the minute hand moved.
There are a number of Courts that defendants and witnesses would attend. The Court you attend would depend normally on the offence and your age (for youths). The flow chart below has been taken from www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk
My most recent training day was at the local Crown Court.
I arrived at the court at 1000. As I approached the court I could see six fluorescent jackets outside. Three on each side of the automatic doors. I hadn't seen police officers outside a court before. I have attended Magistrates Court a number of times due to a previous role.
I thought that maybe there was an important case on today that required a police presence. As I entered the main hall way I was met by an airport style security system. There were three metal detectors and approximately three security officers at each gate. I emptied my pockets and put my car keys, mobile and wallet in the basket and walked through, it beeped. One of the guards scanned my person with a metal detector wand. I collected my belongings and continued inside.
There were a further four officers and another officer in a navy shirt, with a firearm.
It appears that security at this court is important.
I didn't know any of the officers in the court, my force is quite large and I may not even meet them again.
I made my way to the 'CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK'. I found it quite amusing that the court refer to it's users as 'Customers'.
There were two people ahead of me. One appeared to be a defendant and was trying to find out if his case was being heard today or not. He seemed agitated. The second was a middle aged women in wet weather wear and was pulling a small case on wheels. It appeared she came to view a case from the public gallery.
When it was my turn, I spoke through the toughened glass to the elderly female behind the counter and explained who I was and that I wanted to watch the case being heard in Court 8. She asked for my ID and pointed me in the right direction.
I wanted to watch the case being heard in Court 8 as I had spoken to a Witness Care Officer (who works for the police, and deals with warning witnesses etc for court) and she explained that one of her cases was surrounding a death by dangerous charge. I expected this to be an interesting case.
I walked up two flights of stairs to the first floor.
I sat down on the galvanized metal bench outside Court 8. The whole building was really impressive. It was a very grand building. It appeared to be a very old building, although maintained very well. The floor looked like marble. The hall way was lined with large columns.
A gentleman sat two seats away from me. I'm not sure why people don't sit on the seat next to other people but nearly always leave a gap. It turned out that this gentleman was the defendant in the case I was watching.
There were many people hurrying around the halls, going up and down the stairs and getting in and out of the lift. There was a clock approximately four foot in diameter about two feet off the ground on the wall. It seemed to jerk back and forth when the minute hand moved.
There are a number of Courts that defendants and witnesses would attend. The Court you attend would depend normally on the offence and your age (for youths). The flow chart below has been taken from www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk
There were a number of barristers walking around and talking to defendants outside of other courts. The barrister for the case I was going to watch appeared to be in his late fifties, he had white/grey hair visible under his off white wig, and glasses with frames around only half the lenses. He looked very smart. His suit had white parallel lines on the dark blue pinstripe suit. He slid his hands in his trouser pockets as he approached the defendant behind the robe that hung beside him.
The clock shook at half past ten. There was an announcement over the tannoy for the defendant sat two seats away to go into Court 8. A few minutes after he entered, I walked through and sat on a cinema style fold down seat behind a wooden panel topped with glass. I could see the whole court from here, except where the defendant was sitting.
Two young lads walked in a few minutes afterwards and sat in the isle behind me. They were wearing tracksuits bottoms and stripey jumpers. It didn't appear that they knew the defendant. I think they just came to watch also.
The court room wasn't as big as I expected it would be. There was a desk almost the width of the courtroom which was clearly where the judge would sit. Below this was another desk and there was a male and female sat on chairs. The female appeared to be recording everything of note, mainly what was being said.
Then there were three rows of benches facing the judge. At one of the first bench was the Barrister working on behalf of the Crown and sat behind him was a member of staff from CPS, the Crown Prosecution Service. It is CPS who bring the charges against the defendant based on the evidence and investigation supplied by the police. At the opposite end of the first bench was the defence Barrister.
The Court Usher seemed to hurry himself around the room picking things up and talking to people. He seemed to know when the Judge was going to enter and said "ALL RISE" I wasn't sure if this meant me or not so I stood anyway.
There were some discussions between the defence and prosecution Barristers and the Judge, mainly surrounding how they were going to approach the witnesses and they discussed the timetable of the morning. These things don't take a few hours, they suggested the case would last over a week.
Surprisingly, the defence and prosecution Barristers got along very well. It didn't appear they knew each other but spoke to each other in a very friendly way. At one point in the discussion, I heard the prosecution Barrister say "I won't be difficult at that part, we agree on that part"
I'd never seen anyone in the court room before, but strangely felt some form of involvement in the proceedings.
The purpose of this discussion was so that the Jury didn't hear any of it.
The Jury were brought in by the stone faced Usher who instructed them to sit on the seats and face the front.
The Judge explained that it was important anyone who knew any witness or the defendant make the Court aware of that fact so they can sit on another case.
The Jury are normal members of the public who are called to do two weeks worth of Jury duty. Only in certain circumstances can someone be excused from such duty.
There was a serving Police Constable amongst those to be selected. The Judge excused him. I can only assume that the Judge thought that the PC would have a biased opinion on the case in question. I would imagine for this reason, he will be excused from a number of cases.
The Jury of twelve was selected. The remaining few were taken out the Court again by the Usher, to be used elsewhere.
The details of the case will remain untold here. Its not my place to disclose this information.
I stayed to hear the opening by the prosecution Barrister. He tended to use the expression "Ladies and Gentleman many times in a sentence. I found this odd, as he was clearly a very articulate and clever man.
The Barrister mentioned a number of things that included how the deceased had died and what he thought had caused it. He outlined the main points to be heard by the key witnesses and even what he thought the likely defence would be. He did however summarise, as I'm sure the Judge would have, that the evidence heard in the court is what must form the basis of the Jury's decision to convict or not.
The opening took the best part of forty minutes. By this time, as the Court had started late, the Judge decided to break for lunch. This was my time to leave.
Apologies for the delay in the posting of this update. There have been a number of incidents in the recent weeks that have been very interesting and would be great material for you all to read but due to the sensitive nature of the events, I cannot write about them at this time as those involved may be identified due to press coverage. I will however, draft the post and save it for some time in the future.
I'm off on holiday next week and will blog about my attachment with a CSI department in the USA when I return.
Crown Court
It's been a few days since I blogged here last. I'm keen to ensure that those of you who regularly check for updates aren't disappointed.
Tomorrow I will blog my attendance at Crown Court.
Csi Guy
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