Forensic Science & Expert Evidence Adviser

at  Criminal Cases Review Commission

JOB SUMMARY

Many of the cases we receive within the CCRC require assessment of the potential forensic and expert evidence opportunities that may need to be pursued.
The Forensic Science & Expert Evidence Adviser is a new role, developed after identifying the benefits of an internal subject matter expert joining our team.
The successful candidate will provide advice and guidance to the Casework team to ensure all forensic opportunities are fully explored, including helping to identify appropriate experts, interpreting reports, and assisting in the development of forensic investigative strategies.
You will also be involved in developing a continuous training programme for the Casework team, ensuring that everyone is up to date with current legislation, scientific developments and best practice, and that skills are grown and developed within the team.
Our ideal person will have a comprehensive background in either law enforcement as a crime scene manager or within the criminal justice system as a reporting forensic scientist. You will also have extensive experience of working within major and serious crime (including homicide and RASSO investigations) from a forensic perspective.
We need someone with a thorough knowledge of trace forensics, including DNA profiling, and who has experience supporting investigations through producing forensic strategies.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

ROLE PURPOSE

To provide a bridge between CCRC casework and scientific disciplines, supporting staff and Commissioners to identify and pursue appropriate investigative opportunities to obtain fresh forensic or expert evidence, and thereby contribute to:

• fulfilling the CCRC’s purpose of finding, investigating and referring suspected miscarriages of justice; and
• achieving the CCRC’s strategic aims.

The Forensic Science and Expert Evidence Adviser will provide subject-matter advice, but they will not provide expert opinion to the CCRC for evidential purposes.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Supporting CCRC investigations by assisting CRMs, GLs and Commissioners in the interpretation of forensic and expert evidence reports, seeking external expertise as necessary.
• Working with CRMs, GLs, Commissioners and others to identify and follow-up opportunities to obtain new forensic or expert evidence to support CCRC investigations.
• Assisting CRMs to develop forensic investigative strategies, source appropriate experts and draft instructions.
• Ensuring the effective procurement of forensic science and expert capabilities and services and, where necessary, supporting CRMs to ensure that commissioned work is completed to the highest standards and in line with relevant quality standards including the Forensic Science Regulator’s Code of Practice and ISO accreditation.
• Supporting CRMs, GLs and Commissioners in the assessment of expert and forensic evidence to ensure compliance with quality standards, criminal procedure rules, and the effectiveness and credibility of expert witnesses.
• Maintaining and developing relationships with forensic science providers, the office of the Forensic Science Regulator, other experts and expert bodies, and other CJS agencies.
• Ensuring that the CCRC keeps up to date with developments and innovation in forensic science, expert evidence, relevant investigations and case law.
• Identifying thematic opportunities arising from developments in forensic science and expert evidence.
• Maintaining and developing the CCRC in-house guidance on forensic science and expert evidence.
• Sourcing and/or developing and delivering regular briefings and training on forensic and expert evidence to develop the skills within the casework team and providing ad hoc training/coaching/mentoring as needed.
• Assisting the wider Investigations Team, as required by the Head of Investigations.