Scenes of Crime Officer
Encyclopedia
A Scenes of Crime Officer (SOCO) (icon) is an officer who gathers forensic evidence for the British police. They are also referred to by some forces as Forensic Scene Investigators (FSIs), Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs) (although their job differs from that depicted in the CBS TV series
), or Crime Scene Examiners (CSEs). SOCOs are usually civilians, not police officers, but are employed by the police forces. Evidence collected is passed to the detective
s of the Criminal Investigation Department
and to the forensic laboratories. The SOCOs do not investigate crimes or analyse evidence themselves.
in 1968, replacing the CID officers who had previously carried out these functions. Some other forces had introduced them before that time, however.
Other police forces around the United Kingdom
continued this trend of replacing the CID officers with civilians. This allowed the creation of dedicated departments within the police forces. Police officers often moved post after only a few years; the introduction of civilian Scenes of Crime Officers allowed departments to build a resource based on experience.
recovery techniques, DNA
retrieval, photography, road traffic collisions (RTCs), and trace evidence
, amongst other areas of knowledge. Upon the successful conclusion of this course, SOCOs are then invited to further their knowledge by undertaking a two-year diploma. SOCOs are expected to demonstrate a high level of further learning by liaising with colleagues, peers and other services within the law enforcement sector. This is demonstrated by submitting six dissertations discussing specialist forensic areas or elaborating on existing techniques or equipment.
In 1997, the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners was created. This was in response to the lack of regulation within the world of forensic science. Whilst registration is not compulsory, SOCOs are encouraged to apply for registration. The registration process involves the applicant submitting case studies on crime scenes they have examined. These are then subjected to their peers, who assess the applicants work based on best practise. The introduction of the CRFP is aiming to raise the standard of practise and credibility within the forensic departments who work alongside law enforcement agencies.
In 2009, The CRFP (Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners) was closed down.
The Forensic Science Regulator argued that the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners (CRFP) was surplus to requirements. In March 2009, CRFP finally closed.
The Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners (CRFP) closed its doors on 31 March 2009. At an Extraordinary General Meeting the Board of the CRFP decided the organisation could no longer fulfil its objects and therefore resolved that the company should cease trading. The key factors in this were given as:
1. the decision of the Chief Executive of the National Policing Improvement Agency communicated in a letter of 4 February 2009 that he was “not currently prepared to authorise the release of any money to the CRFP for the 2009/2010 financial year”
2. the circular letter to all Chief Constables issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers Forensics Portfolio holder and the Chief Executive of the National Policing Improvement Agency dated 6 January 2009 strongly encouraging Forces “to review their future commitment to CRFP registration and the financial commitment that this requires” and
3. the consequent decision of the Metropolitan Police Service, communicated in a letter dated 2 February 2009, that “the MPS from 1 April 2009 will cease to fund subscription of MPS staff that wish to register for CRFP and will remove CRFP registration as a condition for pay progression” and
4. the decision of the Home Office, communicated in a letter dated 27 February 2009, that they “can see no basis to commit the further £175,000 of public money requested by the CRFP”.
" status as recognised by the British judicial system, although they can be asked to give testimony based on opinion at a judge
's or magistrate
's discretion.
SOCOs examine crime scenes ranging from criminal damage to burglary
to homicide
, although the forensic science provider for the particular police force in question will often be called in to deal with the more complex forensic opportunities that arise during homicide investigations.
The average day for a SOCO involves dealing with victims of crime amongst members of the public, photographing injuries to victims of assault, and examining crime scenes. Most police forces operate an "on call" system. This means that out of office hours are still covered by a SOCO. Most departments cover the hours between 7am and 10pm, with one SOCO "on call" from 10pm to 7am. This SOCO deals with crime scenes that cannot be preserved for the following day.
uses police and civilian Scenes of Crime Officers (SOCOs) in a similar manner to their British counterparts. SOCOs are part of the Forensic Services Group.
Generally SOCOs are limited in the types of tasks they can handle due to their training and scope in which they operate. Major incidents and more serious offences/investigations are handled by full-time sworn officers and specialists from the Forensic Services Group.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
), or Crime Scene Examiners (CSEs). SOCOs are usually civilians, not police officers, but are employed by the police forces. Evidence collected is passed to the detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
s of the Criminal Investigation Department
Criminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
and to the forensic laboratories. The SOCOs do not investigate crimes or analyse evidence themselves.
History
SOCOs were first introduced into the Metropolitan PoliceMetropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
in 1968, replacing the CID officers who had previously carried out these functions. Some other forces had introduced them before that time, however.
Other police forces around the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
continued this trend of replacing the CID officers with civilians. This allowed the creation of dedicated departments within the police forces. Police officers often moved post after only a few years; the introduction of civilian Scenes of Crime Officers allowed departments to build a resource based on experience.
Training
Today, the majority of police forces use a central training resource for the initial and development needs of their SOCOs. With the introduction of forensic science degrees at university level, the standard of candidates for employment is increasing. Once in post, trainee SOCOs attend a nine-week residential training course. During this course, a prospective SOCO will learn about fingerprintFingerprint
A fingerprint in its narrow sense is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. In a wider use of the term, fingerprints are the traces of an impression from the friction ridges of any part of a human hand. A print from the foot can also leave an impression of friction ridges...
recovery techniques, DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
retrieval, photography, road traffic collisions (RTCs), and trace evidence
Trace evidence
Trace evidence is evidence that occurs when different objects contact one another. Such materials are often transferred by heat induced by contact friction....
, amongst other areas of knowledge. Upon the successful conclusion of this course, SOCOs are then invited to further their knowledge by undertaking a two-year diploma. SOCOs are expected to demonstrate a high level of further learning by liaising with colleagues, peers and other services within the law enforcement sector. This is demonstrated by submitting six dissertations discussing specialist forensic areas or elaborating on existing techniques or equipment.
In 1997, the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners was created. This was in response to the lack of regulation within the world of forensic science. Whilst registration is not compulsory, SOCOs are encouraged to apply for registration. The registration process involves the applicant submitting case studies on crime scenes they have examined. These are then subjected to their peers, who assess the applicants work based on best practise. The introduction of the CRFP is aiming to raise the standard of practise and credibility within the forensic departments who work alongside law enforcement agencies.
In 2009, The CRFP (Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners) was closed down.
The Forensic Science Regulator argued that the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners (CRFP) was surplus to requirements. In March 2009, CRFP finally closed.
The Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners (CRFP) closed its doors on 31 March 2009. At an Extraordinary General Meeting the Board of the CRFP decided the organisation could no longer fulfil its objects and therefore resolved that the company should cease trading. The key factors in this were given as:
1. the decision of the Chief Executive of the National Policing Improvement Agency communicated in a letter of 4 February 2009 that he was “not currently prepared to authorise the release of any money to the CRFP for the 2009/2010 financial year”
2. the circular letter to all Chief Constables issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers Forensics Portfolio holder and the Chief Executive of the National Policing Improvement Agency dated 6 January 2009 strongly encouraging Forces “to review their future commitment to CRFP registration and the financial commitment that this requires” and
3. the consequent decision of the Metropolitan Police Service, communicated in a letter dated 2 February 2009, that “the MPS from 1 April 2009 will cease to fund subscription of MPS staff that wish to register for CRFP and will remove CRFP registration as a condition for pay progression” and
4. the decision of the Home Office, communicated in a letter dated 27 February 2009, that they “can see no basis to commit the further £175,000 of public money requested by the CRFP”.
Operations
SOCOs examine and interpret a large variety of crime scenes. They are arguably the only resource that attends such scenes on a daily basis. Despite this, SOCOs do not have "expert witnessExpert witness
An expert witness, professional witness or judicial expert is a witness, who by virtue of education, training, skill, or experience, is believed to have expertise and specialised knowledge in a particular subject beyond that of the average person, sufficient that others may officially and legally...
" status as recognised by the British judicial system, although they can be asked to give testimony based on opinion at a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
's or magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
's discretion.
SOCOs examine crime scenes ranging from criminal damage to burglary
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
to homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
, although the forensic science provider for the particular police force in question will often be called in to deal with the more complex forensic opportunities that arise during homicide investigations.
The average day for a SOCO involves dealing with victims of crime amongst members of the public, photographing injuries to victims of assault, and examining crime scenes. Most police forces operate an "on call" system. This means that out of office hours are still covered by a SOCO. Most departments cover the hours between 7am and 10pm, with one SOCO "on call" from 10pm to 7am. This SOCO deals with crime scenes that cannot be preserved for the following day.
Australia
The New South Wales Police Force in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
uses police and civilian Scenes of Crime Officers (SOCOs) in a similar manner to their British counterparts. SOCOs are part of the Forensic Services Group.
Generally SOCOs are limited in the types of tasks they can handle due to their training and scope in which they operate. Major incidents and more serious offences/investigations are handled by full-time sworn officers and specialists from the Forensic Services Group.