Forensic Collision Investigator

Attend the scene of fatal and life threatening collisions to gather and provide expert evidence to the investigation team and the criminal justice system.

• Engage with, implement and abide by departmental procedures in line with the requirements of the Forensic Science Regulator’s Codes of Practice and Conduct and the International Standards Organisation (ISO/IEC 17020:2012) standards to provide a quality service.
• Record and map the scene of fatal and life threatening road collisions using a variety of methods and equipment to prepare visual representation.
• Conduct examinations of a range of vehicle types as part of investigations to collisions.
• Ensure thorough and meticulous collection, preservation and interpretation of the scene and other evidence, including vehicle defects and digital data to report on the circumstances of the collision.
• Deliver competent, factual reconstructive reports, evidential statements, when appropriate, expert and interpretive reports, and continuity processes for the criminal justice system.
• Advise how to interpret and assign conclusions to forensic findings, distinguishing between factual and expert reporting.
• Assist other team members with investigations and participate in the FCIN peer review process.

Prior education and experience:

• City & Guilds or University Certificate of Professional Development (UCPD) (level 4) in Forensic Collision Investigation, or equivalent.
• An FCIN approved Level 4 Statistics Course.
• Passed FCIN competence assessment.

Skills:

• Good communication skills with the ability to listen to others.in accordance with the varied needs of differing situations, individuals, groups, and communities.
• Able to produce concise reports or other documents.
• Able to present evidence in court and at other hearings.
• Skilled in the use of standard IT packages, systems and/or databases to fulfil role requirements, including creating visual records for forensic investigations.
• Able to use resources efficiently in own role and to comply with financial rules and procedures.
• Able to identify potential opportunities to enhance efficiency and/or effectiveness within own area of work.
• Able to break down a straightforward problem into component parts and determine appropriate action, including the evaluation of forensic examination of items and collision scenes, and to take decisions and evaluate outcomes.
• Able to review own performance objectively and to develop and follow an appropriate continuous improvement plan.
• Able to appropriately prioritise and plan own work.
• Able to identify potential new ways of working and innovation where appropriate and possible to enhance efficiency and/or effectiveness within own area of work.

• Maintain competence by completing annual competency assessment provided by the Forensic Collison Investigation Network (FCIN).
• Maintain authorised practitioner status on FCIN list of authorised FCIs.
• Keep up to date with new approaches to evidence based policing and technological approaches within the forensic collision field.
• Complete all annual and mandatory training as stipulated by any national and force guidelines.
• Keep up to date with national guidance to your core duties.

Membership of Chartered Society of Forensic Science or Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators (ITAI) (Associate level as a minimum).

• Forensic Vehicle Examiner
• Forensic Collision Investigation Unit Supervisor