Footwear mark in blood. Can you guess which shoe has left the mark? This is a closed case from last year. Will post the result later so you can see if you’re right or not.

Live from the scene. Photo showing the location of a fingerprint lift from a moped. #sussexpolice #fingerprint

Photograph of a gate which was rammed at a scene today. #sussexpolice #scenetweets

Fingerprints left behind on the slats were collected. Will take them back to the office and scan them through when I return.

Live from a crime scene… break in by removing the slats in a vent.

This is one question I’m frequently asked, and I often give an untruthful response. I usually say it’s a murder scene and leave it at that. I never go into too much detail as I don’t want to appear weak or too sensitive as most of my colleagues are a lot older than me. But I’ll be truthful and tell you all my real response.

The hardest task of mine was to photograph a baby who had tragically died. I had to attend the mortuary and take photographs in case the job needed to be presented in court. I also had to record any injuries or suspicious marks on him. The baby was a few months old, wrapped in a blanket and placed calmly in a moses basket. He looked so peaceful, like an oil painting of an angel. I came away from the mortuary with a lump in my throat, not being able to properly speak. It’s so sad that someone so small and young could depart this world.

We concluded that it was all an accident, and no foul play occurred. Not only was it sad to see him, but it was so upsetting thinking about what the family were going through and the scars it would leave them with. It’s horrible when your principal in life is to help people, and you’re faced with a task knowing there isn’t anything you can do to help. It’s still something I think about now and then, even-though I’ve dealt with baby cases before and after this event.

I don’t think they’ll ever be a day where I’ll be completely hardened to all types of scenes I go to, where I show no emotion afterwards. And I hope that never happens. It shows I’m still human, with a passion for helping others.

Check out our @peterjamesuk police car. A Sussex Police non response police car is proudly sponsored by the fantastic crime fiction author.

About to take a wet control swab from a bottle left behind at a crime scene.

In this blog I will try to answer common questions a #SOCO/#CSI are frequently asked. I’m hoping this will help anyone trying for a career in forensic science, or for anyone seeking an insight into what we do. Hope you enjoy.

Q. How did you become a SOCO?

A. I joined the Police at 19 years old. I worked in the Post Room for 6 months opening letters, then transferred to the Speed Camera Department. Spent 6 months there, and then transferred to the Scientific Support Branch where I worked my way up. Have been in the branch for over 4 years now. Each promotion required an application form and interview.

Q. What qualifications do you need to become a SOCO?

A. When I started 4 years ago only 3 GCSE’s were required (Maths, English and Science). I think it’s changed slightly now, with a degree being required in science or similar. I’m sure a little leeway will be allowed.

Q. What training have you done?

A. I trained at Harperly Hall in Durham, by Newcastle, and in force. I’ve been on three courses in Durham, and many in force. My first course in Durham taught me the basics to investigate low level crime. The second taught me skills to perform at major crime scenes, and the third course helped develop these skills. These were 3 week, 4 week and 2 week courses respectively.

Q. What’s the best scene you’ve been to?

A. I have two favourites. One was a large fire scene in Worthing where I worked closely with the West Sussex Fire Brigade and a Forensic Scientist from the Forensic Science Service (FSS). The fire was to a large car maintenance garage, where about a hundred houses were evacuated. The other was an armed robbery in Worthing again, where a firearm was discharged. I found blood at the scene and transported it to Cellmark Forensics in Oxford the next day.

Q. What’s the worst scene you’ve been to?

A. A house suspected to be used for torture. It was an abandoned house with no electricity or water. People squatting there were using the bathtubs to go to the toilet in, and the floors were unsteady with lice roaming around the property. Not good!

Q. What’s the best way to become a forensic scientist?

A. You could do what I did and work your way up in the police. There are many Forensic Laboratories scattered around the country. Cellmark, LGC Group, Manlove, NaBIS are all possible career paths. Vacancies will be shown on their websites, but more will be available within the organisation.

Q. Why do you wear those silly all-in-one suits?

A. To help prevent cross contamination. So we do not transfer DNA and Fibres from one scene to another when there could be a link between more than one scene.

Q. Is it just like CSI Miami?

A. No. The show is glamorized to make the programme more interesting. They would never dedicate an episode of CSI to a shed break in!

Q. Is everyone as attractive in your office as the CSI’s in CSI Miami?

A. No.

Q. What’s your favourite part of the job?

A. Helping people. I try to help people find closure after they’ve been the victim of crime, and it gives me a real buzz when I feel they have benefited from my visit. I hate to see people upset, and I make it my mission to get them back on track.

Sometimes in my job role an obstacle presents itself. That obstacle can come in the form of a locked door, padlocks and chains, or a locked safe/security box. My van houses the right tools in case I hit a stumbling block. I do of course check with higher ranking staff and get the go ahead before causing any damage to any scene.

I was at a cannabis factory where the door was padlocked and chained shut. Everyone looked at me, and I looked at everyone. I wasn’t going to win, I was greatly outnumbered. So I strolled to the van, picked up the bolt croppers and sighed. If I couldn’t open the door I would look rather silly in front of my manager and more experienced staff. Luckily I managed to cut the padlock allowing us access in.

More recently I needed to get into a safe. I tried picking the lock but it wasn’t as easy as the movies, so in a rather unstylish way I took a crowbar to the thing. After about 10 seconds of me having a red face, arms wobbling and gritting my teeth the safe popped open.

Please rest assured knowing I do this only when my job requires me to!