Forensic Imaging Unit

Smile, you are on camera…Forensic Imaging Unit

There are few occasions we can be in a city and not be on camera.  ‘CCTV’ covers many public areas and most shops and business have their own systems.  Following an incident CCTV can be a huge help to the police.  But have you ever thought just how many different companies provide CCTV systems and how many differing technical systems may be in use to record their images? 

The staff of the Forensic imaging Unit have to be flexible and technically minded so they can adapt to new technologies as they are encountered.  Moving images used to represent a film, then a video tape and now is more likely to be a computer hard drive with its own specialised system of recording. 

Our Forensic Imaging Specialists spend much of their time recovering images that can be later used as evidence.  They are taught skills to enhance video to make it clearer and edit it into relevant sequences for use in court.  They also edit video taped interviews with suspects and victims and can enhance audio soundtracks.  The vast majority of their work is with video imagery rather than still photography.  If you are looking for a job as a photographer then it is worth noting that most still photography and crime scene video work is done by Scenes of Crime Officers.  Very few forces have positions as dedicated ‘Forensic Photographers’. 

Another area Forensic Imaging staff are recently involved with is 3D modelling or computer modelling.  It allows injuries of a victim, or the path a suspect has taken escaping from a crime scene to be visualised in graphical form for a jury. 

Forensic imaging staff work mainly at their dedicated facilities in police stations around the county.  On occasions they are required to attend crime scenes to recover video evidence from recorders or use their specialist skills to help with an investigation.