Forensics Department Equality Data

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/26/009373/Y

Version Date: 03/02/2026

The HR Workforce Planning Department has provided the following information:

Please note the following:
• The categories referenced in the request do not align with our current organisational structure or terminology. I have provided the post titles that we hold.
• The team operates as a regional collaboration across several forces. The information provided is solely for those employed by this force.
• Data has been taken from the 31st December 2025. Extended Leave Breaks and External Secondments have been excluded.
I am aware that some EDI data for the whole force has been published (most recently in 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.

Definitions

Forensic services/CSI unit refers to staff whose substantive post (or cost centre/department code) sits within the force function responsible for crime scene investigation, fingerprints, forensic submissions/management, and forensic quality management (often titled Forensic Services, CSI, Scenes of Crime, or similar).

1. Workforce size (counts only)

1a) Overall workforce
For the forensic services/CSI unit, please provide:
Total headcount
Total FTE (if held)

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
Crime Scene Manager/Supervisor
Reporting Scientist/ Laboratory Officer/ Forensic Apprentice
Police officers with forensic responsibilities
Forensic submissions/case submission/evidence management / office-based forensic support
Quality/technical support
Management/leadership within forensic services
Administrative/business support within forensic services
Other

Where any specific job title or subgroup contains fewer than 5 individuals, please combine it into a broader category to protect anonymity.

2. 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)
2b) Age band (using your standard age bands)
2c) Ethnicity (using your standard ethnicity reporting categories)

Please also provide aggregated counts for any other Equality, Diversity and Inclusion characteristics that you routinely publish in workforce statistics (for example disability status or gender identity), where disclosure is possible.

To minimise any risk of identification, I am not seeking any breakdown by named teams, locations, or individuals; please apply your standard statistical disclosure control measures and indicate where they have been used, including suppressing or aggregating any cell containing fewer than five individuals (for example by reporting "<5" or combining categories into "Other").

3. 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.
The following information is for financial year 2024/25: