Job market information
Finding out about forensic science
Forensic science is part of the justice sector, which is represented by Skills for Justice Sector Skills Council. It includes: police and law enforcement; prosecution service; courts and tribunals; custodial care; community justice; plus fire and rescue services. The UK justice sector works to create and maintain a safe, just and stable society. The purpose of the sector is to reduce crime and re‐offending, promote confidence in the criminal justice system, protect people and contribute to the reduction and fear of crime, and support the administration of justice. The sector employs around 600,000 employees in the UK across a range of organisations operating with different remits.
Forensic science organisations aid investigative and criminal justice processes across the UK justice sector. The services offered include: scene examination; chemistry; biology; DNA; drugs; fingerprints; and specialist services, such as toxicology, firearms, documents and handwriting analysis.
Employment in the forensic science industry has grown at an unprecedented rate over the last ten years, due largely to advances in technology, such as the National DNA Database, and an increased reliance on forensic techniques by police forces for minor crimes. Although many are employed in the private sector, the majority of staff working in the UK forensic science industry work within police forces. The private forensic science sector consists of organisations which are either: non‐departmental government bodies; and commercial providers. The non‐department government bodies, or executive agencies, include the Forensic Science Service Northern Ireland (FSNI) and the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) Forensic in Scotland.
Key facts:
- In total, there are 8,947 people working in forensic science.
- 85% of the workforce is located in England.
- 62% of employing organisations in forensic science are in polices forces and 38% are in the private sector.
- Competition is fierce in all points of entry, therefore a minimum of an honours degree and, in some cases, postgraduate qualifications are needed for entry.
- Women across the justice sector as a whole tend to be concentrated in support roles.
Jobs in the industry range from: Scenes of Crime Officers, Assistant Forensic Scientist, Trainee Forensic Scientist, Forensic Computer Analyst, Forensic Psychologist, Digital Evidence Investigator, Forensic Drug Analyst.
Entry and progression
Most forensic scientists start as trainees and receive on‐the‐job training from experienced scientists, combining in‐house courses with practical casework. Forensic scientists can take further specialist qualifications, such as the Forensic Science Society diploma course, specialising in, for example, crime scene investigation, document examination, fire investigation, firearms examination and forensic imaging.
Direct entry as a forensic scientist is with a degree in a mathematical or science subject, or an equivalent professional qualification. A pre‐entry postgraduate qualification is increasingly desirable as competition is intense. A relevant PhD or MSc, in, for example, forensic science, can be an advantage.
Police forces employ civilians as Scenes of Crime Officers (SOCOs) (sometimes known as Crime Scene Investigators), who start as an assistant scenes of crime officer (or volume crime scene examiner). New entrants may attend a three‐week basic training course at National Police Improvement Agency and then take a four‐week conversion course to become a SOCO after gaining some experience. There are opportunities for further study for SOCOs to progress forensic scientist or management posts.
To become an assistant forensic scientist, applicant need at least one A level/Advanced Higher or two Highers in science subjects. To become a forensic scientist and progress to senior level a good honours degree in a relevant subject is required. Once in post, there are opportunities for further study. The largest commercial provider, Forensic Science Service (FSS), has a promotion structure for forensic scientists. Apart from the FSS, most employers in England and Wales are small, with limited opportunities for promotion.
There are a range of industry endorsed courses, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, vocational qualifications and training schemes.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
8,947 |
|---|
| Number of UK employers: |
117 (Skills for Justice estimate based on incomplete dataset, 2007-2008) |
|---|
| Gender: |
41% male |
59% female |
|---|
| Ethnicity: |
89% of the workforce is white. |
|---|
| Age: |
11% of workforce is 16-24 years. |
|---|
| 48% 25-44 years. |
| 41% is over 45 years. |
| Age: |
8% of people are aged 16‐24 years. |
|---|
| 25% are aged 25‐34 years. |
| 30% are aged 35‐44 years. |
| 25% are aged 45‐54 years. |
| 11% are aged 55‐64 years. |
| 1% are 65 years plus. |
| Certain roles in the justice sector, such as police and prison officers, have a minimum age requirement of 18 years and 30 year retirement schemes. |
| Employment: |
87% of the justice sector workforce is employed full‐time. |
|---|
[N.B. Data for Justice sector does not include fire service activities. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2007‐2008.]
Employment trends and future prospects
Across the justice sector as a whole, there is a forecasted need for 136,000 people from 2007‐2017. In the longer term, government spending on Public Administration and Defence is expected to increase at a lower rate than the economy as a whole. Pressures to restrain government expenditure and cut costs mean increased productivity and efficiency will be essential to the sector. A key element of the government’s strategy to increase efficiency and to direct more staff to front‐line delivery of services is the efficient and effective use of technology. Recently, there have been significant job losses in Forensic Science Service as three main labs were closed.
Skill requirements and shortages
The following skills gaps have been identified with new recruits:
- a lack of depth to basic scientific knowledge
- poor basic scientific technique
- poor communication skills
- poor attitudes towards workplace professionalism
- inadequate understanding of the importance of integrity of evidence
- poor IT skills
Occupational trends
Due to the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, growth in the public administration (this includes the judicial activities and police and fire services) is likely to be around 1% per year to 2017. Declines are expected to be in administrative, clerical and secretarial roles, but increases in management and professional roles.
Justice sector occupational distribution
| Managers and Senior Officials |
9% |
|---|
| Professional Occupations |
8% |
|---|
| Associate Professional and Technical |
54% |
|---|
| Administrative and Secretarial |
18% |
|---|
| Skilled Trades Occupations |
1% |
|---|
| Personal Service Occupations |
1% |
|---|
| Sales and Customer Service Occupations |
* |
|---|
| Process, Plant and Machine Operatives |
* |
|---|
| Elementary Occupations |
7% |
|---|
[N.B. Data does not include fire service activities. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2007‐2008.]
National and regional data
The East Midlands has 5 police forces that employ approximately 360 full‐time equivalent forensic staff. There are no commercial forensic science providers in the East Midlands.
The East of England has 6 police forces that employ nearly 500 full‐time equivalent forensic staff. Commercial providers in the region include: Forensic Science Service; and Keith Borer Consultants Ltd.
London has 2 police forces that employ over 1,000 full‐time equivalent forensic staff. Commercial providers in the region include: Forensic Science Service; LGC Forensics; Berkeley Security Bureau (Forensic) Ltd.; and Scientifics Ltd.
The North East has 3 police forces that employ over 200 full‐time equivalent forensic staff. Commercial providers in the region include: Forensic Science Service; Keith Borer Consultants Ltd.; and Scientifics Ltd.
The North West has 5 police forces that employ nearly 650 full‐time equivalent forensic science staff. Commercial providers in the region include: Forensic Science Service (3 locations); and LGC Forensics Ltd (2 locations).
The South East has 5 police forces that employ over 600 full‐time equivalent forensic science staff. Commercial providers in the region include: LGC Forensics Ltd.; Orchid Cellmark Ltd.; and M‐Scan Ltd.
The South West has 5 police forces that employ nearly 400 full‐time equivalent forensic science staff. Commercial providers in the region include: Mass Spec Analytical Ltd.; and Scientifics Ltd. (3 locations).
The West Midlands has 4 police forces that employ nearly 400 full‐time equivalent forensic science staff. Commercial providers in the region include: Forensic Science Service (4 Locations); LGC Forensics Ltd.; Key Forensic Services Limited; Document Evidence Ltd.; and Scientifics Ltd.
Yorkshire and Humberside has 4 police forces that employ nearly 600 full‐time equivalent forensic science staff. Commercial providers in the region include: Forensic Science Service (2 Locations); LGC Forensics Ltd.; Key Forensic Services Limited.; Central Science Laboratory (CSL); and Scientifics Ltd. (2 Locations).
In Northern Ireland, there is approximately 225 forensic science staff working for either executive agencies or commercial providers. The number of forensic science staff working within Police Service Northern Ireland is not known. Forensic Science Northern Ireland (FSNI) is the main forensic science employer.
In Scotland, there are approximately 550 forensic science staff working for either non‐departmental government bodies or commercial providers. The commercial provider Scientifics Ltd. has offices in both Scotland and England. The main forensic science employer is the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA).
Wales has 4 police forces that employ 259 full‐time equivalent forensic science staff. A further 173 full‐time equivalent staff are employed by the commercial provider, Forensic Science Service.
Salary levels
Salary ranges:
- Assistant Scenes of Crime Officers and Volume Crime Scene examiners start on around £16,000
- Scenes of Crime Officers can earn around £17,000 and £26,000
- Senior Scenes of Crime Officers can earn from £26,000 to £30,000
- Starting salaries for trainee forensic scientists typically range from £16,000 to £20,000.
- With experience Forensic Scientist salaries range from £25,000 to £30,000.
- Typical salaries at senior forensic scientist levels are £45,000 plus
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using Skills for Justice AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
