Crime Scene Investigators (CSI’s) perform a vital role in the investigation of the full range of criminal activity in Lancashire. They support police officers by providing intelligence links between crimes and/ or offenders, and locate and recover evidence which often leads to the identification of offenders.
Training
There are currently 45 CSI’s based in five locations around the county and they work seven days a week covering core hours, with an out of hours call –out provision for major/ serious crime.
Our CSI’s are trained at the College of Policing Forensic Training Centre at Harperley Hall, Durham in the basic photography and forensic gathering skills. Further specialist training is ongoing throughout their careers in disciplines such as fire investigation, counter terrorism and crime scene management.
Tools for the Job
Lancashire CSI’s are a uniformed workforce and use liveried vans to get to and from crime scenes. The vans carry all the specialist equipment needed to respond to a variety of crime types. This would typically include cameras, fingerprint powders and brushes, footwear casting compound, packaging materials, lighting equipment, tents, ladders and personal protective equipment.
Crime Scene Examination
The first task for CSI’s on arrival at a crime scene is to review any cordons or other protective measures in place. They then assess and examine the scene visually before recording the scene using video and still photography, and sometimes annotated diagrams. The next stage is the painstaking examination for forensic evidence which may include hairs, glass, paint, fibres, blood, fingerprints and footwear impressions. These are documented, packaged and sealed and transported to our secure forensic stores. All fingerprint and footwear impressions we take are then forwarded to our own accredited units at Police Headquarters at Hutton for further examination.