Police photography

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6 Dec 2004 - 12:33 PM

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dfawbert

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6 Dec 2004 - 12:38 PM

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Hi Laura,

What qualifications do you have already? Most photogrpahy jobs within the Police seem to be within Scenes of Crimes which generally require science qualifications -- the job involves quite a lot forensic investigation. These jobs are advertised under Public Sector vacancies on most job websites.

Dave

dfawbert

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6 Dec 2004 - 12:48 PM

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Some useful websites:

Here, Here and Here.

Perhaps you should consider the traffic police. All of tehir work seems to be done by cameras nowadays -- big, yellow ones...

mr g

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6 Dec 2004 - 3:29 PM

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Just spoken to my brother-in-law who works for a Constabulary in NW England. Their 'Imaging Dept' deal with all manner of work from PR to scenes of crime photography and he confirmed much of what Joe has said. He has been to some very gruesome scenes. I guess if it's what you want then go for it
Rob

gibbsy

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7 Dec 2004 - 9:31 AM

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I was about to embark on a similar job within the Fire Service until a serious injury put pay to my career as a Firefighter. At that time I was in contact with the Scenes of Crime Unit's photographer who would work on arson jobs or fatalities under the direction of the senior Fire Officer. Because of the demand on these phogoraphers my Brigade decided to employ their own photographer, me, as I was already the 'unofficial' photographer. Then came my injury.
If you do go for it then from my own experience it is a demanding job, not only from a technical viewpoint but from a mental viewpoint. You will certainly have to have a strong stomach, a crazy sense of humour will also help, you dare not take the work home with you. I've seen some pretty horrible sights.
The rewards, well just think that it could be your work that help catch some scrote or solve a mystery. You'll probably pick up a few weddings as well. I did!!!!

overshoes

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4 Aug 2005 - 7:33 PM

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Hi Laura,
Most county forces have reduced the amount of professional photographers they use and have Scene Examiners to do the job.
The Met police have a dedicated photographic branch. Most of the general photograph work is done by Scene Examiners (level 1s). Their photography covers robbery, assault, criminal damage, victims and minor marks. Whilst their main task is to do powering, fingerprint lifts and packaging exhibits at a scene. A lot of county force photographers have moved over to being Scenes of Crime Examiners. The Met Photographic Branch is part of the SCD (Serious Crime Directorate). The department supports the SCD and offers specialist photography throughout the met to them. So you deal with murders, shootings, fatal road traffic accidents, child protection, acts of terrorism and major events at home and abroad.

There are six main sections
Scenes of Crime This is general photography and video recording at scenes. The main work is photographing post mortems, body in situ, murder scenes, fatal road accidents and fires, shoe marks and supporting specialist SCD units.

Specialist lighting Deals with scene searches with crimescope, lasers, UV and white light. Also retrieving latent marks from property and bodies in mortuaries.

Public Order Public demonstrations, football matches any overt monitoring.

Surveillance Covert surveillance

Corporate + Video Corporate photography, studio and video production

Lab Technicians Processing and printing. Wet process and digital medium.

When you join youll usually start doing scene of crime, them move about the department. So youre not stuck doing one thing for years. The general kit is Bronica GS1 or Pentax 67, but soon moving to full digital. Most of your work will be dealing with death and extreme acts of violence, but when youre at a scene you just switch off and get the job done. Youre more worried about exposure, composition and not screwing up. Only two shots are allowed, so theres no shooting load of rolls to get one print, get it right first shot.
The unit is like a family, the money is good and you have an index linked pension and good holidays. Full training is given and you spend time with a mentor before going out on a job alone. Its a laid back environment, which was a shock as I thought it would be very stuffy, its jeans and T-shirt. Most people have a wicked sense of humour and get prepared to have pranks pulled on you. The job is not for everybody and if you think youll be racing around with blues and twos, living a CSI lifestyle forget it. Its shift work, sometimes very long hours, in the worst places imaginable and a lot of waiting around at scenes.
So how do you get in? Job vacancies for Police Photographers are generally advertised in the British Journal of Photography or send your CV to the force and wait until a vacancy arrives. Contact a photographic dept and ask to have a look round, they dont bite. The standard qualification is HND or HNC upwards but they do except old city and guilds. Most people who join have worked in hospitals, other county forces, the armed forces and a few straight out of university. An easier way is to start as a technician and apply to be a photographer once you get settled, once your in your in.
Good Luck
Overshoes

shitzkit

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7 Aug 2005 - 5:07 PM

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what college are you going to?. im at the glasgow met going on to do my 2nd year of hnd photography and last year we got taken around a police center in glasgow. you need top marks to get in and we got told the money is great but when we were there it was a bit boring but a trip to the pub helped out lol. first year of hnd photography and you get science (very boring if your not into it) and the 2nd year is going to be brill as its all photography based.

Photo4x4

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7 Aug 2005 - 11:30 PM

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Hello Laura

I left my career at the start of this year as a Scenes Of Crime Officer/Forensic Photographer to set up my new Photo 4x4 business so I can speak with some authority on the subject.

You are welcome to email me or telephone for a chat regarding this. The contact details are on my website. I will give you some honest advice and I promise not to try and sell you a photographic expedition!

Keith Hart