Location of Role: Chelmsford
Advert Closing Date: 10/07/2026
Starting Salary: £42,612.00 (pro-rata for part-time vacancies)
Part/Full Time: Full Time
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Shift not 24/7
Weekend/Evening Working: Yes
Kent Police and Essex Police have recently transformed their Digital Forensic Services to fully leverage modern technology and infrastructure. As part of this transformation, we are recruiting Digital Forensic Specialists to join our established and forward-thinking Digital Forensic Services team based at Chelmsford Headquarters.
This role sits within a newly designed structure that prioritises career progression, continuous professional development (CPD), and the maintenance of consistently high forensic standards.
Digital devices now feature in almost every police investigation—from mobile phones and computers to gaming consoles, CCTV systems, and satellite navigation devices. As technology rapidly evolves, this role requires adaptability, curiosity, and a commitment to continuous learning.
As a Digital Forensic Specialist, you will:
- Collect, extract, analyse, interpret, and present digital evidence in support of criminal investigations.
- Conduct forensic examinations across a wide range of digital devices and platforms.
- Produce high-quality technical statements and reports, suitable for investigative and court purposes.
- Provide early investigative advice to support proportionate, justified, and necessary digital forensic strategies.
- Work in accordance with ISO 17025 standards, maintaining competence and sharing best practice.
- Stay current with emerging technologies, tools, and forensic techniques.
- Manage a high and varied caseload, balancing investigative priorities and court deadlines.
- Provide guidance, coaching, and support to colleagues within a collaborative team environment.
You will be exposed to highly sensitive and distressing material, requiring strong emotional resilience, professionalism, and discretion.
Skills, Knowledge and Experience:
We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated individuals who can demonstrate:
- Advanced technical knowledge of computer and/or mobile device hardware, software, and operating systems.
- One of the following:
- A degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline, or
- At least 3 years recent experience within a digital forensic service provider (law enforcement or private sector).
- Experience using nationally recognised digital forensic tools.
- Experience producing technical reports and statements.
- A sound understanding of ISO 17025 and its application in a forensic environment.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Computer or mobile programming experience (desirable).
- Court experience (desirable).
Personal Attributes:
- Highly motivated and professional
- Strong organisational and time-management skills
- Able to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
- Emotionally resilient with excellent attention to detail
- Supportive, constructive, and willing to coach others
Shift Pattern:
This is a shift-based role, operating on a 6‑week rota, including 1 weekend in 6:
- AM Shift: 0700 – 1500.
- PM Shift: 1200 – 2000.
- Weekend Shift: 0800 – 1600.
- Bank Holiday on call Rota.
Essex Police offer agile working which allows some flexibility in terms of work arrangements. Due to the operational nature of this role, it will be predominantly office based within an office-based team. Some travel may be required to other police sites to discharge duty.
Your application for this role will be shortlisted on the content you provide within the “reason for application” question, within the application form itself. CV’s, covering letters or attachments are not included in the shortlist. Within your “reason for application” answer, please refer to any experience, skills, and abilities you feel you have that will make you suitable for this role, based on the role criteria stated in the job advert or job description. Please provide as much detail as possible as insufficient content may mean you do not meet the shortlisting criteria, however please note this question is limited to 9000 characters and this system will count spaces and blank lines as characters. This count may differ from the Microsoft Word word count function therefore you may wish to use a different online character counter to check the characters used.
Depending on your current vetting level and security clearances, you may be required to complete additional vetting information during the recruitment process.
Kent Police and Essex Police welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, or employment status.
Please let us know if you require extra support at any stage of the application process, or for further information regarding this position, please email us at [email protected] stating ‘Application Support and Adjustments’ in the title of your email. Alternatively, you can call us on 01245 452833. Where appropriate we will make adjustments to the selection process, working arrangements and/or the working environment provided it is reasonable in all the circumstances to do so.
If you’re not from the UK, you must be a resident in the UK and have lived here continuously for the last three years. You must also be free from restrictions with indefinite leave to remain. If you’re from the UK you must have lived here continuously for the last three years. This doesn’t apply to those serving abroad in the British Armed Forces.
As a Disability Confident Leader we:
- Have subjected our Disability Confident self-assessment to external challenge and validation.
- Are taking an active leadership role in encouraging and helping other employers on their journey to becoming Disability Confident.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion are central to the values of our organisation. At Essex Police we value and embrace the unique experiences, identities and abilities that each of us bring to our roles. We strive to empower everyone to bring their authentic self openly and safely to work.
Through the dedicated commitment of our support networks, DE&I team and wider HR departments, we are on a journey to embed our DE&I commitments, ensuring Essex Police is an employer of choice; where everyone feels included.
Essex Police and Kent Police are an equal opportunities employer. Communications may be recorded for monitoring purposes.
