Fingerprint officer

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• applying directly

University

You could give yourself an advantage by doing a relevant degree in:

• forensic science
• criminology
• applied science
• chemistry
• biology

Entry requirements:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Entry requirements:

Entry requirements:

DirectApplication

Each police service sets its own entry requirements, but to start as a trainee fingerprint officer you'll often need one or more of the following:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) including maths, English and a science subject
• A levels or equivalent qualifications
• experience of working in the police service

Police services will carry out checks into your background and employment history. This might also include checks on your close family members.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Skills:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• knowledge of public safety and security
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to work on your own
• legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
• the ability to learn through your work
• knowledge of English language
• customer service skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• active listening skills
• administration skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to read English
• excellent written communication skills
• concentration skills
• the ability to work well with your hands
• physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace

What you'll do:

Fingerprint officers work to identify fingerprints taken from crime scenes.

As a fingerprint officer, you could:

• attend crime scenes to collect fingerprint evidence
• take prints from bodies at incident scenes or in a mortuary
• compare prints with those of suspects
• scan police fingerprint forms into national fingerprint database systems
• analyse prints and marks to uncover links between crime scenes
• work with forensic staff to collect traces of other evidence left by fingerprints
• eliminate prints to rule out people not under suspicion
• classify records and maintain fingerprint databases
• prepare and present evidence for investigators and for court
• attend training on new fingerprint methods and technology

Location : You could work in a laboratory.
Environment : Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
Uniform : You may need to wear protective clothing.

Salary:

Starter : £18,000
Experienced : £30,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

42 - 44 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays at short notice

Career Path:

With experience, you could become a senior fingerprint officer or scientific support manager. With further training, you could become a scenes of crime officer (SOCO), or move into forensics or criminal intelligence work.