Salary: Scale 5 – Career Progression to SO01
Sc 5 - £30,333 - £32,613
Sc 6 - £33,603 - £37,020
SO01 - £38,169 - £41,487
Location: Police Headquarters, Aykley Heads, Durham
Hours/Contract: Full time hours, working 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, permanent
Closing Date: 5pm, Tuesday 15th September 2026
The Role
To assist in making an efficient and professional firearms classification and examination service. To provide opinions and interpretation on ballistic items and examinations in the form of reports and statements of evidence
What You’ll Do
- Examine, classify, and provide expert witness reports/statements for all firearms and ammunition seized by officers required for the courts. This includes attending court as an expert witness.
- Achieve and maintain compliance to Forensic Science Regulator’s Code of Practice including associated accreditation (ISO 17025). This includes taking an active role in external assessment (e.g. UKAS, Durham County Council)
- Achieve appropriate qualifications, knowledge and experience for progression to full Firearms examiner within 12-24 months.
- Attend scenes (as required) to oversee the joint recovery of firearms and ballistic items. Advise SIOs/OICs/instructing parties on forensic firearms recovery strategy.
- Assess all firearms and ammunition coming into police possession against the NABIS registration and submissions criteria. Submit where appropriate.
- Provide training for AFOs, student officers, search officers, members of police staff involved in the handling of firearms and ammunition.
- Undertake continued professional development through the maintenance of an active training file which documents all training received and evidence of ongoing competence.
- To keep updated with all developments and new technology and to attend any relevant training courses as considered appropriate and necessary to gain qualifications as a Firearms Examiner and expert in firearms classification.
- Where required police powers will be designated by the Chief Constable, to enable entry, search, seizure and recovery of exhibits.
What You’ll Bring
Scale 5
- 4 G.C.S.E. levels (Grade A to C; Grade 9-4) including English Language or Literature and Math’s or an approved equivalent.
- Within first three months complete national triage classification of firearms and ammunition course
- Within first six months Membership of relevant professional bodies (Forensic Science Society).
- At least 12 months’ administration experience – which must include updating systems, writing standard operating procedures in compliance with regulatory frameworks.
To progress to Firearms Examiner:-
- Advanced Diploma in Initial Triage classification of firearms and ammunition course
- Satisfactorily conduct the role of trainee Firearms Examiner for a minimum of 12 months.
Successful completion of training courses, including but not limited to:
- Advanced Ammunition training.
- Advanced shot gun training.
- Advanced air weapon.
- Triage of firearms.
Expert Witness courtroom training.
- A thorough knowledge of Firearms legislation to be able to provide opinion based evidence in court
- To possess a full, current driving licence
- Travel across the UK may be required
If you hold a higher qualification than those required above or minimum 5 years relevant experience, please evidence this on your application and it will be reviewed by our recruitment team.
For further information, please view the Job Description and Person Specification attached.
How to apply
If you’d like to apply, please forward a copy of the attached Application form, by the closing date.
External Applicants - please use the external application form
Internal applicants - please use the Internal Application form
Please also complete and return the equal opportunity form and return this with your Application form.
We are committed to equal opportunities, we therefore encourage you to complete and return the equality monitoring form. This form is optional, and your responses will be kept confidential and for statistical purposes only.
The above 2 (relevant application + equal opportunity) forms should be returned by email to our Recruitment department – [email protected]
Candidates must have indefinite leave to work and live in the UK and be free from any restriction. Any successful candidate will be asked to provide evidence of this.
Candidates will be contacted via email in relation to the recruitment process and are advised to also check junk and spam folders for email updates.
Further information
Any offer of employment will be subject to appropriate vetting checks which will be maintained/updated throughout the period of service.
Applicants must have been a UK resident for at least three years prior to the date of application.
If applicants have not been a resident in the UK for at least three years and can provide a VERIFIABLE certificate from the police of any country where they have taken temporary residence. The certificate must indicate that they have not been convicted of any offence whilst in that country or involved in any investigation by a Law Enforcement Agency.
Any tattoos deemed to be obscene, or advocates sexual, racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination, by written word or design is prohibited and the presence of such a tattoo would preclude an applicant from passing the recruitment process for employment with the Constabulary.
For any queries, please contact [email protected]
Please return the relevant application form and the equal opportunity form to [email protected]
