2: The Crime Scene

Many specialists and agencies attend crime scenes, however it is the Crime Scene Investigator (CSI_ who is the cornerstone at these incidents. This chapter includes updates to the history and current training these professionals go through. An explanation is presented on the ISO accreditation each UK police force has been required to obtain, along with changes this has had on forensic practices. This is coupled with new DNA technologies that have emerged to provide real-time intelligence opportunities for the investigation, leading to a debate on the equality of this forensic provision. A discussion of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences’ new Pre-Employment Assessment of Competence (PEAC) programme is also offered, as well as guidance for those seeking quality in this area. These inclusions are against a comprehensive backdrop covering the traditional proficiencies of the CSI set alongside the softer skills that are often overlooked in textbooks. Vignette scenarios are used to demonstrate the cognitive demands placed on the examiner and the need to establish protocols, in what can often be a highly dynamic environment.