Crime Scene and Forensic Evidence

Crime scene investigation has become more popular over recent years, in part due to the increase in the television shows depicting crime scene investigators. It has also resulted in a number of universities in the United Kingdom offering improved courses in crime scene science and forensic investigation. These courses cover a wide range of areas of science and law and teach the student through lectures and hands on experience in laboratories and at crime scenes.

The courses on offer differ from university to university and are often taught by experienced professionals in the crime scene, forensic science and policing disciplines. They bring their years of experience to their lectures and taught courses. Some of these courses are also accredited by the forensic science society.

The science parts of these courses cover everything from DNA extraction and examination to document examination. It will involve time in the laboratories completing examination and analysis and presenting the results in court.

It is important for a forensic scientist and crime scene investigator to understand some relevant law and therefore there are modules which look at laws and regulations such as PACE. They also teach you how to write statements and go to court, often with an assessed court appearance as well.

The universities provide for crime scene investigation examination in various ways, and several have crime scene houses where mock crime scenes can be set up for the investigators, as well as garages for cars which can be examined. There are also computer laboratories for use when examining digital evidence.

You will be required to wear the correct PPE or personal protective equipment, although most is provided for you some of it will have to be bought for your own personal use. Sometimes this is a laboratory coat or a specific type of glove or a boiler suit used for crime scene.

Through lectures, mock crime scenes, examination of evidence, mock court and a hefty dissertation at the end you too can be a CSI or Forensic Investigator. Look at the prospectus for the different universities and decide which area you would most like to work in, after all its your future you are planning.