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Four in five crime scene investigators (CSIs) say their mental health has been damaged by the traumatic nature of their work, according to new research published by UNISON.
The union’s survey, released to coincide with its annual National Police, Probation and CAFCASS Service Group Conference in Brighton, reveals that 84% of forensic staff report a negative impact on their mental wellbeing due to exposure to distressing crime scenes and incidents.
CSIs are routinely confronted with harrowing situations, including scenes of death, violence and sexual assault, as well as the need to support victims and bereaved families. UNISON warns that this sustained exposure is taking a heavy toll on a workforce essential to the criminal justice system.
More than a third (36%) of those surveyed said their mental health was “seriously” or “very negatively” affected by the job, while around one in six (18%) reported having received a medical diagnosis for a mental health issue or trauma-related condition. The union says this raises concerns that many others are suffering in silence without access to proper care.
The research highlights growing strain across forensic departments, with 78% of respondents reporting rising workplace pressures over the past year. Three-quarters (75%) said their employer’s expectations had increased during the same period, despite more than half (56%) saying their departments had experienced staff cuts.
Many respondents cited a lack of management understanding and a culture that normalises stress as simply “part of the job”. Others reported long waits for support services, poor communication from occupational health teams, and a lack of trauma-specific assistance. Three in ten CSIs said they had never been offered access to a core police support package, while a third had taken time off work due to job-related ill health.
One CSI described the impact first-hand, saying they were currently off sick with stress and post-traumatic stress symptoms after months of warning managers about worsening conditions. They reported feeling “completely forgotten” after going on sick leave, adding that the workplace atmosphere had become “toxic”.
UNISON is calling on police forces to guarantee that CSIs are granted at least one paid recovery shift following attendance at a traumatic incident. The union also urged central government to invest in police staffing and mental health provision to address chronic under-resourcing across forensic services.
UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said crime scene investigators were “paying a terrible price for their dedication to public safety and criminal justice.”
She added: “They deal with the aftermath of incidents that nobody wants to see. Regular trauma is seriously damaging their mental health, yet too often their suffering is overlooked, ignored or dismissed. That is unacceptable.
“Forces must face up to the reality of what their staff experience. Support must be automatic, confidential and properly resourced. Nobody should be left to cope alone.
“Police budget deficits make the situation worse. Short staffing and relentless workloads drive stress through the roof. Investment in staff wellbeing, and in wider police services, is essential if justice for victims is to be delivered.”
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