FOI 46/26 Forensic Staff
Date: 09/02/26
Enquiry Reference: 46- 26
I write in connection with regards to your Freedom of Information request. Please accept our sincere apology for the late reply. Below is your request and our response.
Please provide the information set out below in relation to staff whose primary role is within forensic-related departments, including but not limited to crime scene investigation, forensic science laboratories, quality/R&D, and associated support functions.
I am aware that some EDI data for the whole force has been published (most recently in 2023-2024 ), including a breakdown by broad staff categories. However, this published data does not provide sufficient detail for forensic services, and I am therefore requesting the latest available workforce and EDI data specific to forensic staff, including the additional detail outlined below.
Snapshot date
Please provide data based on the latest available headcount snapshot for the most recently completed year-end prior to the date this request is received. If a year-end snapshot is not held, please use the nearest available date and state the date used.
- Workforce size (counts only)
1a) Overall workforce
For the forensic services/CSI unit, please provide:
Total headcount – 54 people
Total FTE (if held) – 50.87 people
1b) Headcount (and FTE if held) by role group
Using the closest equivalent groupings you already use, please provide headcount (and FTE if held) mapped where possible to the following categories:
CSI/SOCO/Crime Scene Investigator – 15 people, FTE;12.85
Crime Scene Manager/Supervisor – 8 people, FTE: 7.5
Reporting Scientist/ Laboratory Officer/ Forensic Apprentice - 13 people, FTE: 12.62
Police officers with forensic responsibilities. 0
Forensic submissions/case submission/evidence management / office-based forensic support
Quality/technical support. 0
Management/leadership within forensic services. 0
Administrative/business support within forensic services. 0
Other - 18 people, FTE: 17.9
- Workforce demographics (aggregated, low-risk)
For the same unit and snapshot date, please provide aggregated headcount totals only (no individual-level data) by role group where possible, or at unit level if role-level breakdown would risk disclosure:
2a) Sex (as recorded in your HR system)
CSI/SOCO/Crime Scene Investigator - 11 Females, 4 Males
Crime Scene Manager/Supervisor - 3 Females, 5 Males
Laboratory Officers/ Office-based forensic/Submissions/Quality/Forensic Management - 10 Females, 3 Males
Other (Including Digital Forensics) - 3 Females, 15 Males
2b) Age band (using your standard age bands)
CSI/SOCO/Crime Scene Investigator
Between 18 years and 55 and over - 15 People
Crime Scene Manager/Supervisor
Between 18 years and 55 and over - 8 People
Laboratory Officers/ Office-based forensic/Submissions/Quality/Forensic Management -
Between 18 years and 55 and over - 13 People
Other (Including Digital Forensics)
Between 18 years and 55 and over - 18 People
2c) Ethnicity (using your standard ethnicity reporting categories)
Mixed - White and Black African - 1 Person
Prefer not to say - 2 People
White - Any other white background - 1 Person
White - English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British - 50 People
- Pay gap metrics (metrics only, not raw pay)
Provide the latest gender and ethnicity pay gap metrics for staff in forensic services/CSI unit, using your standard methodology (mean/median pay gaps, bonus gaps). If not held at unit level, please confirm.
Answer
This information isn't held at unit level, we complete Annual pay gap reports, but this is for the whole force, not for separate units within the organisation.
Having made enquiries within the Force above is all the information we hold.
Please note that all statistical data supplied in relation to Freedom of Information requests is a snapshot of data held at the time the request was received by the Freedom of Information office and is subject to constant change/updates.
If you are not satisfied with this response or any actions taken in dealing with your request, you have the right to request an independent internal review of your case under our review procedure. The Freedom of Information Code of Practice (see below link) states that a request for internal review should be made within 20 working days of the date on this response or 40 working days if extenuating circumstances to account for the delay can be evidenced. Public authorities are not obliged to accept internal reviews after this date.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-code-of-practice
Yours sincerely
Information Rights Decision Maker