Crime Scene Manager
Role Purpose
To lead a team of crime scene investigators and specialists at a complex or major crime investigation scene. To advise Senior Investigating Officers in planning forensic investigation strategies for crime scenes.
Where appropriate line manage a team of forensic investigators, ensuring opportunities for team members development, enabling team members to develop and build wider team competence. Driving improvements to ensure that they effectively contribute to strategic force objectives and investigations into complex and major crimes.
Key Accountabilities
• Advise and collaborate with the lead investigator in the development of forensic investigative strategies for the crime scene to ensure that the gathering of relevant forensic evidence and data is undertaken in a legal and ethical manner that is proportionate to the crime.
• Maximise the evidential potential of a crime scene by supervising a team of Crime Scene Investigators and other specialists to ensure the effective processing of a crime scene.
• Ensure the crime scene is preserved and processed in accordance with protocols, enabling evidence to be collected safely and comprehensively through effective communication with those involved in the investigation.
• Manage a team of crime scene staff and specialists to ensure their wellbeing and welfare, ensuring appropriate care and support is in place to enable individuals and teams operate safely and effectively.
• Engage with and implement departmental procedures in line with the requirements Forensic Science Regulator Codes of Practice and Conduct and the International Standards Organisation (ISO) 17020/17025 standards to provide a quality service through accreditation.
• Provide feedback on the work of Crime Scene Investigators and specialists to support their professional development and training as part of working to achieve team/force objectives.
• Identify threats and opportunities in crime scene investigation to manage risks and improve the service quality to assist in achieving team/force objectives.
• Design and deliver training for key stakeholders and the wider policing community to improve knowledge and understanding of crime scene evidence in the investigative process.
Behaviours
All roles are expected to know, understand and act within the ethics and values of the Police Service.
The Competency and Values Framework (CVF) has six competencies that are clustered into three groups. Under each competency are three levels that show what behaviours will look like in practice.
It is suggested that this role should be operating or working towards the following levels of the CVF:
Resolute, compassionate and committed
Inclusive, enabling and visionary leadership
Intelligent, creative and informed policing
Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Prior education and experience:
• Likely to have achieved a Level 2 or equivalent standard in numeracy and literacy in prior to entry.
• Experience in undertaking serious and complex forensic investigations.
• Demonstrable experience of complex information gathering and problem solving.
• A detailed understanding of the criminal justice system.
• College of Policing Crime Scene Investigator Programme or equivalent recognised training.
• College of Policing Crime Scene Managers Development Programme or equivalent recognised training.
Skills:
• Able to set out logical arguments clearly, adapting language, form and message to meet the needs of different people / audiences.
• Skilled in the use standard IT packages, systems and/or databases to fulfil role requirements, including creating visual records for forensic investigations.
• Able to manage forensic investigations at scenes, including directing the packaging, storing and transport items of potential evidence.
• Able to provide day to day management of a team and deal with a range of behaviours to mentor and develop performance and create strong engagement of individuals with their personal and team objectives and with Force values, behaviours and strategic priorities.
• Able to proactively manage the introduction of new business processes or ways of working at team level.
• Able to use best available evidence to identify cause and effect and develop a course of action designed to target root causes and mitigate risk including the evaluation of forensic investigation of crime scenes.
• Able to review and assess individual and team performance against expected standards, providing objective and effective feedback and ensuring corrective actions are taken where necessary.
• Able to plan ahead; to allocate work appropriately within the team and to identify and mitigate risks to delivery.
• Able to develop and implement forensic strategies for serious and complex investigations.
• Able to identify key stakeholders, understand potential roles and to take appropriate steps to understand their needs and concerns.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• Keep up to date with new approaches to evidence based policing- within the forensics/ investigation field.
• Keep up to date with new technological approaches within the forensic investigation field.
• Maintain a working knowledge of how technological advances might facilitate offenders in committing crimes and investigative approaches relating to technological enabled crime.
• Complete all annual and mandatory training as stipulated by national and force guidelines.
• Keep up to date with national guidance to your core duties.
• Ongoing development of people management and welfare skills.
Professional Registration/Licenses
• Not applicable.
Links to other Profiles
• Crime Scene Co-ordinator
• Crime Scene Investigator