Forensic Identification Specialist - QUALIFIED Fingerprint Expert

This role is within a unit where Surrey Police and Sussex Police work in collaboration, whilst remaining two separate legal entities/employers with different terms and conditions. Both Surrey Police staff and Sussex Police staff are employed in this unit on their own force terms and conditions. Successful candidates may be appointed on the terms and conditions of employment of either Surrey Police or Sussex Police, depending on organisational requirements. A discussion will be held with the successful candidate to confirm the details of location, salary, allowances and hours.

Division / Department - Specialist Crime

Grade - Surrey Police Grade G / Sussex Police Grade 10

Status - Full Time

Contract Type - Permanent

Salary Grade Range - Surrey Police £33,128 - £39,149 / Sussex Police £34,329 - £37,692

Working Hours - 37.0 Hours per Week

Shift Allowance - Yes

Politically Restricted - No

Location - Lewes

The starting salary for this role will usually be at the bottom of the salary range and will be pro-rata if the working hours are less than full time.

Chief Constables' Message: We really welcome your interest in joining our Police Force. It is a privilege to lead the teams in Surrey Police and Sussex Police who continuously work selflessly and tirelessly in order to keep people in our counties safe. We are looking for talented and inspirational people who put the needs of the public at the heart of everything that they do and who want to make a difference. If you feel you are that person then we want to hear from you. We wish you all the very best with your application.

The Role & Key Responsibilities: As a Forensic Identification Specialist, you will undertake the full range of fingerprint related duties in support of the investigation and detection of crime, by examining Friction Ridge Detail using ACE V methodology, including searching, comparison, evidence preparation/delivery and liaison with Police Officers and staff of all ranks, both within and outside of the organisation. You will enhance, analyse, compare and evaluate crime scene marks against elimination fingerprints and nominated suspects and utilise the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, to establish or exclude identity to support investigations and criminal justice requirements. Ensuring that all actions are recorded and retained for audit, adhering to Bureau Procedures in line with ISO 17025, legislation, and the Forensic Regulators Code of Practice, in accordance with Department and Customer expectations, in line with the FISU 'Service Level Agreement', Quality Manual and all other documented procedures.

Make a positive contribution in relation to ongoing ISO 17025 accreditation, be supportive of continuous improvement initiatives and be flexible in your approach to change on a Local and National Level. Mentor trainees, providing feedback using your knowledge, experience and expertise. Be point of contact for Investigating Officers and other key customers to provide specialist advice in line with FISU Service Level Agreements. Prioritising your workload and maintain an active working knowledge of changes in technology and legislation relating to fingerprint identifications via mandated courses and independent research and be involved in project groups as new processes and procedures are developed and introduced. Host attachments from colleagues from other departments within Forensic Investigations.

Skills & Experience: To be a qualified fingerprint expert with recent experience within an ISO 17025 accredited bureau. To have recent evidence of having maintained proven competence. This will have been achieved through relevant experience in a Fingerprint Bureau environment. Competence will have been assessed in line with ISO 17025 accredited standards. Or by attending a recognised Fingerprint Training course and working through a developmental training programme over a number of years including regular competency testing. Possess a high degree of interpersonal and oral skills along with the ability to negotiate and influence at all levels including giving evidence in court. Demonstrate a good working knowledge of relevant Police computer systems including PNC, SOCRATES (or similar case management system), Remote Transmission systems, IDENT1 and LIVESCAN and other IT products. Demonstrate an aptitude to perceive, analyse and think using visual images. Work methodically and patiently, using their own initiative, with the ability to think laterally and logically to exacting standards of accuracy and integrity. Demonstrate the focus and drive to effectively prioritise work, achieve targets and get results. Be adaptable and flexible in their approach to personal time management. Demonstrate an aptitude to study and maintain records of their Competency. To be firm and persistent when expressing views and instructions to all levels of staff and to readily provide ideas and solutions to overcome. Able to evidence strong report writing skills. Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, together with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels and to be a team player within a close working environment. Be responsible for prioritising your workload and maintain an active working knowledge of changes in technology and legislation relating to fingerprint identifications via mandated courses and independent research and be involved in project groups as new processes and procedures are developed and introduced. Be required to maintain competence of fingerprint examination through regular competency testing and peer review. A willingness to travel between Sussex and Surrey in conjunction with their responsibilities.

Why Work With Us? Surrey and Sussex Forensic Investigations department have an exciting opportunity to join the Forensic Identification Services Unit (FISU) as a Forensic Identification Specialist (Fingerprint Expert), based in the picturesque County Town of Lewes, East Sussex. The successful candidate will be employed by Sussex Police, under their terms and conditions. FISU is a small, dedicated, supportive and friendly department with currently, eight Specialists, one Trainee & two Ten Print Technicians, a Team Leader, a Technical Supervisor and Department Manager. Policing is an exciting 24/7 business and we all have commitments outside work. We’re invested in supporting people to balance their life with work. We take pride in looking after our people and offer a variety of benefits; career progression, contributory pension scheme (LGPS), generous annual leave allowance, discounts for everyday spend, on-site gyms and a range of sports clubs, generous and supportive parental leave, financial and mental wellbeing guidance and support, discounted contributory healthcare scheme.

Salary: Specialist Sussex Grade 10 - £34,329 - £37,692 + Unsocial Hours Allowance & On-Call Allowance (plus a discretionary salary enhancement, of up to £4,000, dependent on demonstrable direct relevant experience and competence).

For further information regarding this role please refer to the job description or contact: The successful candidates will be required to participate in a shift pattern and on-call rota covering a 24-hour period, 7 days per week. Shift work operates between the hours of 0700 to 2000 on call thereafter on a rota basis. This is a Sussex Post and the successful candidate will be employed under Sussex Police terms and conditions. This post is based at Sussex Police HQ, Lewes and cannot be offered as remote working. All posts will be offered subject to successful vetting and medical review. Applications will only be accepted by clicking the 'apply' button and completion of the electronic forms. CV's are not accepted as part of our recruitment process and you should refrain from uploading/sending these.

Diversity Statement: We are only as good as our people. It's important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach, and the skills that diversity brings; all of which help us to deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all. We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of Disability Confident, hold Race Equality Matters Trailblazer status, are a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and are aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement. We are committed to being an anti-racist police service. We promise to challenge injustice, ensure fairness and to uphold anti-racist principles in both our organisation and our communities. We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status, or religious belief, we would love to hear from you.

Following submission of your application you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application attached. Occasionally emails from this address can fall into spam/junk folders so please ensure this is checked regularly. You may wish to consider adding noreply@surreysussexpolice.as.recruitmail.com to your address/contact list to ensure you receive all communications. This post is being advertised in parallel with Force redeployment processes. Any redeployees who are identified will be given preference. This may result in the post being withdrawn at any point during the recruitment process. Please note that not all jobs are available for internal candidates across both Forces, the current agreed recruitment principles are; vacancies in collaborated units are available to all officers and staff across both Forces, vacancies in non-collaborated units are only available to officers and staff within the Force with the vacancy unless it is advertised externally, if the vacancy is advertised externally and an officer or member of staff from the other Force is successful it will result in a transfer of employment. Surrey Police and Sussex Police Special Constables, Volunteers and Agency Staff (excluding self-employed workers) covered under the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) are eligible to apply for internal advertised posts.