Trainee Fingerprint Examiner

Job Title: Trainee Fingerprint Examiner

Salary: £29,258 to £33,269 plus a Location allowance of £1,721. You will receive £29,258 the band minimum. Progress to the band maximum of £33,269 will be via incremental progression. After successful completion of the training programme (2 years) you will be required to periodically work shifts (15 weeks at a time) during these periods only you will also receive 20% shift disturbance allowance.

Location: Lambeth

Play a vital part in bringing offenders to justice.

Policing a city with nearly nine million residents presents its own unique challenges. The Met’s Forensic Services unit helps keep London safer by providing an invaluable response to the capital’s complex policing challenges. The first UK Fingerprint Bureau was founded at Scotland Yard in 1901 and today receives over 163,000 cases a year. Join us as a Trainee Fingerprint Examiner and take your place in history, using your skills and experience to help solve even the most complex crimes.

In this role, you’ll be working in the UK’s largest police force, delivering an efficient, accurate and effective technical fingerprint examination service. Working as part of a team, you’ll conduct analysis, comparison and evaluation of finger, palm, and plantar prints in connection with all levels of crime, including homicide, rape, and Counter Terrorism. Your insight will bring offenders to justice and support the wider judicial system.

Job Description

To provide a professional, efficient, and effective fingerprint examination provision to the Metropolitan Police Service and external agencies with the appropriate vetting level.

To acquire an acceptable level of competence in the fingerprint discipline through formal training and monitoring, and apply this knowledge and skills in the analysis, comparison, evaluation of finger, palm and plantar marks and finger/palm/plantar prints.

Key Responsibilities

• The Trainee Fingerprint Examiner will assist in the delivery of the fingerprint service to the investigation team. They will deliver the agreed fingerprint strategies as directed by the Fingerprint Team Leader and/or the Senior Reporting Fingerprint Examiner and follow service level agreements and relevant procedures.
• Perform the initial analysis, comparison and evaluation of finger-mark, palm and plantar. Use training and experience to analyse, compare and evaluate crime scene marks. Use professional judgment to determine the quality of marks and the most effective method of processing case material to support an investigation.
• The Trainee Fingerprint Examiner will be required to justify their findings either orally or in writing and they will be held accountable for their technical decisions.
• Provide accurate and detailed notes describing observations and interpretations of finger mark analysis. Provide a rationale for personal opinions proffered.

Vetting

This post requires access to the most sensitive intelligence material on a daily basis. Applicants must hold or be prepared to undergo National Security Vetting (NSV) Security Check (enhanced) (SC(e)) level before taking up the post; with a willingness to undergo Developed Vetting (DV) once in post, if required.

Additionally, this material is of particular sensitivity to the UK and its distribution must be restricted to UK nationals. In approved circumstances dual nationals (of which one element is British) may also be granted access. However, in the event that potential conflicts of interest cannot be managed the post holder will not be able to see the intelligence material and will not be able to perform their duties. For the purpose of safeguarding national security and in line with Cabinet Office Policy, supported by Section 82(2) to (4) of the Police Reform Act (2002), applicants who do not hold or acquire Security Check (enhanced) (SC(e)) OR Developed Vetting (DV) clearance and meet the nationality requirements cannot be offered the post.

Please click on the below link to view an online candidate information pack that will you give you an insight into the Met, the competency framework we use which shapes our daily work behaviours, the application process, and a host of other information, that will help inform and support your application:

https://sscl-innovation.com/MPScandidatepack/

Click the apply now button below and start your career at the Met. Applications will be via a detailed online application form.

Completed applications must be submitted by 26 May 2023.

Essential For the Role, e.g., qualifications, licenses, languages, training

• 5 GCSE passes (grade 4 and above), or equivalent, must include English, Maths and a science subject
• Must have a good standard of written and verbal communication for correspondence and reports
• Good team working skills
• IT literate in WORD and EXCEL
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
• Must provide a DNA sample and fingerprints for inclusion on the Staff Elimination databases
• The role holder will agree to abide by the Forensic Regulator’s Code of Practice and Conduct
• May be required to have the appropriate inoculations to undertake this role
• May obtain, on a voluntary basis, friction ridge detail from cadavers

Additional Information

The successful applicant will work office hours between the hours of 08:00 – 20:00 Mon – Sun, however, Forensic Services provides 24/7 operational support. After successful completion of the training programme (2 years), the Trainee Fingerprint Examiner will be required to work a 24/7 rotational shift pattern attracting 20% for periods of approximately 4 months at a time and office hours when not on shift between the hours of 07.00 – 20.00 Mon – Sun.

The review process will consist of an application and an in-person (75 minute) aptitude assessment which is usually completed at Lambeth HQ. Candidates successful at both application and aptitude assessment will be invited for interview.

Successful candidates will join in two groups starting March 2024 and September 2024.

Your application will need to cover the below competencies at Level 1 from the Competency and Value Framework (CVF). Please see the attached CVF documentation which will assist you with this. Each competency includes a list of behaviours you should demonstrate, where possible, in your example.

We are collaborative - Detail a time where you have worked with others to achieve a task or goal. (Max 500 words)

We support, deliver, and inspire - Give an example of where you have motivated, encouraged or inspired others to achieve a goal or overcome an obstacle. How did you do this and what did you have to consider? (Max 500 words)

The remaining CVF elements will be assessed at interview.