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Forensic Scientist
Hours
37 per week
Starting salary
£20,000 + per year
If you enjoy science and want to help solve crimes, this job could be perfect for you. This type of scientist prepares traces of physical evidence for use in courts of law.
Before you can start as a trainee you are likely to need an honours degree in a biology or chemistry-related subject.
As well as a degree, you will need to have an enquiring mind. You’ll need to have a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail. Often you’ll have to meet deadlines and work under pressure.
WorkDesc
The work
Forensic scientists use principles of biology, chemistry and maths, and a range of techniques, to obtain and analyse evidence from a variety of sources - including blood and other body fluids, hairs, textile fibres, glass fragments and tyre marks.
As a forensic scientist, your main role would be to look for evidence to link a suspect with a crime scene. However, your duties could vary depending on your specialism, and may include some or all of the following:
- blood grouping and DNA profiling
- analysing fluid and tissue samples for traces of drugs and poisons
- identifying, comparing and matching various materials
- examining splash patterns and the distribution of particles
- analysing handwriting, signatures, ink and paper
- providing expert advice on explosives, firearms and ballistics
- researching and developing new technologies
- recovering data from computers, mobile phones and other electronic equipment
- attending crime scenes, such as a murder or fire
- giving impartial scientific evidence in court
- supervising assistant forensic scientists in the laboratory.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would usually work 37 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Some employers operate a shift or on-call system for dealing with high priority work. Flexible or part-time hours may also be available.
You would be based mainly in a laboratory, however you may also visit crime scenes, which could be unpleasant and challenging. You would wear special clothing to prevent contamination and protect you from hazardous substances.
IncomeDesc
Income
Starting salaries can be around £20,000 a year.
With experience, earnings may reach £25,000 to £35,000 a year. Senior forensic scientists may earn £45,000 or more.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
Before you can start as a trainee forensic scientist, you are likely to need an honours degree (2:2 or above) in a biology or chemistry-related subject. It is important to check potential employers' exact requirements as not all science-based subjects provide the right level of knowledge needed for the job. You may be competing for jobs with candidates who have postgraduate, Masters and PhD qualifications.
It would also help you to have at least six months' relevant work experience, for example in a hospital laboratory or as a laboratory technician in a school. The Forensic Science Service (FSS) occasionally offers work experience to graduates. It is the biggest employer of forensic scientists in England and Wales. See the FSS website for details.
If you want to specialise in electronic casework (recovering data from computers, mobile phones and other electronic equipment), you may be accepted with experience and qualifications in computing, electrical engineering, electronics or physics.
To work with the FSS, you will also need to be a citizen of the UK, European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or the British Commonwealth, and have been resident in the UK for at least three years. See the FSS website for more details about recruitment.
You may be able to start as an assistant forensic scientist if you have four GCSEs (A-C) including English, biology, chemistry or maths, plus one A level in chemistry or biology. Once you are working in this job, you may be able to study part-time or by distance learning for a relevant biology or chemistry-based degree.
Normal colour vision is usually required.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
As a trainee forensic scientist, you would receive on-the-job training from experienced scientists. This would usually be made up of internal (in-house) courses and practical casework.
If you join the Forensic Science Service (FSS) as a trainee forensic scientist or reporting officer, your training would take around 18 months and lead to a forensic scientist post.
You could go on to take further specialist qualifications, for example the Forensic Science Society diploma course, in an area such as crime scene investigation, document examination, fire investigation, and firearms examination. See the FSS website for details of their courses.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To become a forensic scientist, you would need to have:
- an enquiring mind
- a logical and analytical approach
- patience and concentration
- highly developed observation and scientific skills
- objectivity and personal integrity
- a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
- the confidence to justify your findings when challenged
- strong written and spoken communication skills
- the ability to work alone and in a team
- the ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Forensic Science Society 
18a Mount Parade
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG1 1BX
www.forensic-science-society.org.uk
Skills for Justice
Court Atlas Way
Sheffield
S4 7QQ
www.skillsforjustice.com
Forensic Science Northern Ireland
151 Belfast Road
Carrickfergus
Northern Ireland
BT38 8PL
www.fsni.gov.uk
Forensic Science Service (FSS)
Priory House
Gooch Street North
Birmingham
B5 6QQ
www.forensic.gov.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You will find most job opportunities with the Forensic Science Service, which has 11 sites around the UK. You could also work for an independent organisation that provides forensic science services to the police.
Other opportunities for work would be with public health laboratories, universities, and companies that deal with specialised areas, such as fire investigation or analysing documents.
You may find jobs advertised in the press (in The Times and The Guardian, for example), on the Forensic Science Service website, and on the New Scientist website.
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
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.
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