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.
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.
