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Abi is one of three apprentices learning her trade in our busy Forensics department.
As part of National Apprenticeships Week 2022, she gives us an insight into her typical day and why she chose to apply for an apprenticeship at WMP.
Abi Everett, Forensics Apprentice.
The day started with….
…having breakfast before leaving the house around 07:15 to get to work for 08:00.
I’m responsible for…
…multiple processes and procedures to aid investigations. As an apprentice I am based mainly in the Fingerprint Development Lab (FDL) but I also work across other departments, which include the Fingerprint Bureau and the Major Crime Lab.
In FDL I carry out chemical treatments on exhibits that are submitted by Officers or Forensic Scene Investigators (FSI) to enhance/develop any latent fingerprints marks that may have been deposited on the items.
I joined up…
…in June 2021 as an apprentice in the Fingerprint Development Lab (FDL). My interest in going into forensics started when I was around 11 and started watching crime and investigation based programs, which I can safely say are not realistic! I developed a huge interest in crime along with the desire to help people so forensics was the perfect fit and direction. I did find it really difficult to gain any sort of experience due to the industry being so confidential, so finding this apprenticeship was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.
The department is…
…one of the best parts of the job. Everyone in all the departments I am involved with are really helpful and always happy to explain / show me the procedures they are completing on exhibits.
I got here…
…through applying for an apprenticeship that I saw advertised on the GOV.UK website. I got really lucky that I found the apprenticeship with only three days until the closing date while trying to find an alternative to university. Out of the 1000s that applied, I honestly couldn’t believe I got it.
My typical day…
Even though the procedures and treatments carried out in the lab are the same, there is never a ‘typical’ day.” There are aspects that are similar but overall every day is different in forensics as no two crimes are the same and the variety of exhibits/crime types we receive everyday are widely varied.
My most memorable moment…
…was attending my first scene while on an attachment with Crime Scene Coordinators (CSC). I got the chance to shadow a CSC and got to experience hands on what an FSI/CSC would complete at a crime scene including being the public face of forensics by dealing with the victim/victim’s family to get a verbal account, scene photography, powdering for potential fingerprint lifts and determining if any exhibits are suitable for chemical treatment in FDL.
The best part of the job…
The satisfaction of being in the forensic field is definitely the best part, as I wanted to join the police to genuinely try and help others and make a difference.
The worst part of the job…
There isn’t anything specific, I genuinely really enjoy the job. The job isn’t always smooth sailing, for instance when the workload increases making the environment high pressured, and when complex issues arise that you have to deal with by direct contact with other people in other departments such as officers of different ranks. But my confidence has grown massively from being in these situations.
If I didn’t do this job I’d…
…pursue the medical career route and study to be able to help people in a different way.
If you’d like to follow Abi into a career in Forensics, take a look at our vacancies today.