Photographer - Assistant Forensic Practitioner - Specialist Imaging

20141

1
MO4 Forensic Services
Lambeth
Band P2
Full Time
36 hours per week
Permanent

Job Title: Photographer - Assistant Forensic Practitioner - Specialist Imaging

Salary: The starting salary is £35,085, which includes allowances totalling £2,928.

The salary is broken down as £32,157 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £35,306.  Plus a location allowance of £1,928 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.

Please note - the role holder is expected to commence working a shift pattern within one year of employment, at this point a 12.5% shift disturbance allowance will be applicable.

Location: Lambeth - which is an accessible building.  (15-minute walk from both Vauxhall and London Waterloo stations, 15-20 minutes from Victoria station)

 

More Trust, Less Crime, High Standards.

The Met serves London 24/7 policing a city with over nine million residents. Forensic Services helps keep London safer by providing an invaluable response to the capital’s complex policing challenges and you’ll have a key part to play in that.

Forensic Services

As an integral part of the Metropolitan Police Service, Forensic Services contributes significantly to making London safer through a wide range of technical and scientific expertise in order to detect, investigate and reduce crimes. Forensic Services is the largest multi-faceted forensic organisation within Policing across England and Wales. We provide technical and scientific expertise in crime scene management and examination, specialist imaging, evidence recovery, exhibit analysis, fingerprint comparison and digital examination.

Within Forensic Services, Physical Forensics delivers casework across a number of disciplines (including Specialist Imaging, Biology and Trace, Fingerprint Enhancement & Firearms) to the Met in support of Policing objectives to address investigative requirements and provide forensic evidence to the Criminal Justice System.  The range of forensic services includes the recovery and enhancement of fingerprints and footwear marks, the identification and recovery of body fluid stains, blood pattern analysis (both within the laboratory and at scenes of crime) submission for DNA profiling.

The Role 

Assistant Forensic Practitioners within Specialist Imaging are professionally qualified Photographers. They support Practitioners to undertake casework that has been submitted to the laboratory and deliver a bespoke photographic/specialist imaging response at crime scenes, in support of investigations.  They are required to use 360 immersive image capture, video, drone photography, x-ray and specialist high speed video with the use of industry standard software such as Photoshop, Premier Pro as well as other specialist imaging equipment and software. 

Macro photography skills are used on a regular basis to capture evidence.   This includes the searching and photographic retrieval of latent evidence (including post-mortems), utilising skills alongside Scientists and Forensic Practitioners from other disciplines.  This could be within both DNA and non-DNA accredited laboratories or crime scene environments (including post-mortems) in order to capture fingermarks, body fluids, fine detail and other evidence. 

This role is demanding and challenging, but it will also bring huge job satisfaction and reward in contributing to the effective delivery of quality forensic science casework to the Met and the Criminal Justice System. You will be required to present evidence in court. Attention to detail, teamwork and the stamina for a physically demanding job are key for this role. The role holder will have to be resilient to deal with distressing incidents and attend mortuaries to examine/record cadavers. Counselling and support will be available throughout your career.

The role will build on your current professional photographic qualification and experience through undertaking an initial mentored training program. You are required to pass probation at 12 months. Following this your future progression to Forensic Practitioner, band P, is dependent upon achieving and maintaining competence across all the necessary and relevant evidence types for the discipline you are working in, which is expected to be achieved within 2- 3 years.

Forensic Services provides a service 365 days a year. The role requires shift working made up of a mix of early, days and late shifts, including weekends and bank holidays. Please note driving is essential for this role.

Key Activities:

  • Organise workloads and photographic deployments ensuring delivery of service to serious crime scenes across the Met.
  • Assist in the searching and imaging of footwear marks and friction ridge detail in support of serious crime investigations.
  • Assist in the imaging of other types of latent evidence such as Luminol, body fluids, fibres and hairs or concealed or erased writing in support of serious crime.
  • Assist Scientists and Forensic Practitioners within both DNA and non-DNA laboratories in order to capture fingermarks, body fluids, gunshot residue and other evidence.
  • Assist in high-speed imaging.
  • Assist in the use of video imaging.
  • Assist in the capturing of injuries of victims in the studio using specialist lighting techniques.
  • Assist in the utilisation of a number of bespoke elevated imaging platforms (including piloting, image recording or assisting in the deployment of a UAV (drone) in support of casework investigations).
  • Assist in the capture and compilation of immersive imaging evidence (within controlled environments and at crime scenes) and to produce interactive court presentations.
  • Assist in undertaking the delivery of X-ray examinations within the lab and at crime scenes.
  • Ensure image post-production is undertaken using the most appropriate enhancement techniques in an efficient and timely manner.
  • Produce statements and take responsibility for imaging evidence and present expert evidence as required within the judicial process and attend case conferences as requested.

Application Process

Your initial application will be assessed against the following CVF elements:

  • We collaborate – Level 2

         Provide an example of when you have worked with others to achieve a goal, what considerations did you make? (max 500 words)

  • We take ownership – Level 2

         Provide an example of a time when you have influenced change, to improve performance or improve an outcome. What action did you take and why? (max 500 words)

After receipt of your initial application, you will be contacted regarding the submission via email of a portfolio in PDF format, no more than 20mb.

The PDF portfolio must contain only 10 photographs taken by you. We require 2 examples from each of the below 5 categories: -

  • Property interior
  • Macro
  • Landscape
  • Studio Portrait
  • Night photography

Candidates successful at the paper sift and PDF portfolio review stage will be invited to interview which will include an assessed pre-interview exercise to test your photographic skills and knowledge. 

The interview will be assessed against the Competency and Values Framework elements listed below all at Level 2:

  • We are emotionally aware.
  • We are innovative and open minded.
  • We support and inspire.
  • We analyse critically.

As part of the interview, you will also be asked to discuss your previously submitted PDF portfolio.

How to apply

To begin your career at the Met, please click the "apply button “. The application process requires a comprehensive CV, and an online application form.  Your CV which must not exceed 2 pages (information exceeding this will be disregarded). The CV is to include details of your photographic qualifications and any relevant experience as well as confirmation that you hold a driving licence (which must have been held for a year, meet UK DVLA standards, be full, manual, clean and valid).

Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 7th December 2025.

Once received, your application will be reviewed against eligibility criteria, following this, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager. The application review for this vacancy will commence mid to end of January.

Following application review, successful candidates will be invited to interview. Interview dates will commence beginning to mid-February.

www.metpolicecareers.co.uk

Essential

  • Candidates must hold a driving licence (which must have been held for a year, meet UK DVLA standards, be full, manual, clean and valid)
  • Must pass an eyesight examination and possess full colour vision.

Professional Qualifications

  • A professional photographic qualification (BTEC, HND or higher).

Knowledge and Experience

  • A broad photographic knowledge and practical experience in professional photography, including the use of industry standard post production software.

Expectations and Working Conditions

  • Provide a DNA sample and fingerprints for inclusion on the Staff Elimination databases.
  • Agree to abide by the MPS Standards of Conduct
  • Comply with security policies.
  • Comply with the requirements of the Metropolitan Police Service policies on Drug and Alcohol testing (substance misuse).
  • Understand and accept the personal responsibility to protect and maintain the confidentiality of all Met information and any intellectual property.
  • Comply with mandatory training requirements.
  • Achieve and maintain competency in Specialist Imaging Techniques.
  • Keep up to date with developments within imaging with a view to the constant development and improvement of the unit.  To keep up with advances in technology or new working practices and attend courses, conferences and seminars as directed.
  • Contribute to the unit’s overall performance targets within Forensic Services.
  • Comply with and promote Metropolitan Police Service policies on diversity and inclusion both in the delivery of services and the treatment of others.
  • Understand and accept the core principles set out in the H&S Policy in relation to the role, duties and responsibilities and implement those principles and requirements in day-to-day activities.  Demonstrate effective, visible, safety leadership, understand H&S policy and lead compliance within area of responsibility. Implement the principles and requirements of H&S policy in day-to-day activities. Encourage open dialogue and feedback on safety issues.
  • Expected to work within the Forensic Services Quality Management System and actively participate in the continuous improvement of the system, participating in quality assurance, engaging in audits, competency testing, reporting non-conformances and suggesting changes to improve the system, to support working within an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory.
  • Required to work a shift pattern (including weekends and bank holidays) to provide imaging support and this may also include out of hours working and participating in an on-call arrangement.  The expectation is you will start shift work within your first year of employment.
  • Occasional requirements for staff to travel outside of the Met, sometimes overseas, in support of training or operational deployments.
  • May be required to have appropriate inoculations.
  • The role holder must have held a driving licence for at least 12 months which must meet UK DVLA standards, be full, manual, clean and valid. They will be expected to undertake a Met driving test as they will be expected to drive as part of their daily duties, in order to attend crime scenes within the Met and outside of London.
  • Must pass an eyesight examination and possess full colour vision.
  • Once in post you may be required to undergo further vetting at an enhanced level to support Secure Operations (should you not obtain enhanced vetting level status, this will not impact your role as Assistant Forensic Practitioner – Specialist Imaging).
  • Due to the nature of the work, you will be exposed to potentially distressing and unpleasant incidents, which at times will include the requirement to examine and record cadavers.
  • Participate in psychological screening requirements.

Skills

  • To evaluate each assignment to maximise the retrieval of forensic evidence by providing a bespoke imaging response, sometimes operating in a high-pressure environment.
  • An effective level of communication is required to facilitate casework within the imaging unit, liaising with other Forensic Specialists, Managers and Police Officers.
  • Be honest and demonstrate trust, integrity, and reliability.
  • Be able to organise your own workloads, plan and prioritise with the ability to multi-task, display initiative and commitment and have the confidence to make decisions.
  • Be able to apply common sense, knowledge, and analytical decision-making skills to a variety of challenging forensic scenarios, problems and difficulties both at crime scenes and within laboratories/studios.
  • Effective time management in order to meet investigative deadlines. Each assignment requires a bespoke imaging response, and you will be expected to deal with new and novel situations and be able to technically achieve images of a high standard.   
  • Ability to remain flexible and responsive to changing operational circumstances.
  • Be able to work in a sensitive environment and must be able to ensure work is conducted in a confidential nature, abiding with policies set out by the Met when working with information marked above restricted.
  • Good IT skills, including competence in Microsoft Office applications, Photoshop, Premier Pro as well as knowledge in 360 postproduction programs or similar.
English
Band P
The following competencies will be tested against during sift:
  • We collaborate at level 2
  • We take ownership at level 2
Disability Confident Statement 

The Met is committed to being an equitable (fair and impartial) and inclusive employer for disabled people, striving to have a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and long-term conditions, ethnic minority groups and women.

As a Disability Confident Leader, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of our everyday practice. We ensure that people with disabilities and those with long term conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

The Met is committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process to ensure disabled applicants can perform at their best. If you need any reasonable adjustments or changes to the application and recruitment process, we ask that you include this information within your application form. All matters will be treated in strict confidence.

Please note, if you are applying for a police officer role or to become a police community support officer (PCSO) or designated detention officer (DDO), there is a minimum requirement that you must pass a job-related fitness test (JRFT) at point of entry. This does not apply to police staff roles. Find out more about police fitness standards.

Read our full disability confidence statement.


This opportunity is closed to applications.