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Forensic professionals are suffering severe damage to their mental health due to frequent exposure to traumatic scenes, according to UNISON, the largest trade union in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
Based on a health and wellbeing survey of 245 police crime scene investigators at forces in England, Scotland and Wales, conducted between April 23 and May 16, 2025, 84% of CSI staff say their work takes a heavy toll on their mental health.<\/p>\n
More than a third (36%) of CSIs said their mental health is \u201cseriously\u201d or \u201cvery negatively\u201d affected by the job. In fact, around 18% have received a medical diagnosis for a mental health issue or trauma-related condition\u2014raising concerns many more are struggling without proper support.<\/p>\n
While this is not a new part of the job, many survey participants noted it is getting worse thanks to a toxic work environment.<\/p>\n
For example, 78% of surveyed CSIs report increased workplace pressures over the 12 months preceding the survey. Additionally, 75% of staff say their employer\u2019s expectations have increased; however, 56% report their department has cut staff over the past year. Not only does staff reduction impact hours, it also takes a toll on morale\u2014especially in this type of trauma-forward work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere needs to be more awareness of the number of deaths we attend and how this affects our mental health,\u201d said a crime scene investigator who took the survey. \u201cI love my job, but we\u2019re rarely in company with colleagues for entire shifts\u2014as we do not have the staff to double crew\u2014and therefore only see victims of crime. Having company would help with \u2018compassion fatigue\u2019 as it lightens the load. I\u2019ve also been in situations where I\u2019ve been at risk due to suspects still being at the scene, and I\u2019ve not had personal safety training, or anyone with me, for support.\u201d<\/p>\n
Surveyed CSIs also told UNISON there is a lack of management support and a culture of dismissing stress as just \u201cpart of the job.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMental health issues aren\u2019t supported, and we\u2019re just expected to get on with the job,\u201d remarked a surveyed CSI staff member. \u201cWe\u2019ve been told that if we aren\u2019t fit enough to do the job then we should find something else. Regular support should be available to discuss wellbeing on an individual basis, as sometimes an incident can affect you months after attending. Sometimes it\u2019s the less traumatic incidents that stay with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Delays in accessing services, lack of confidentiality and limited trauma-specific help mean many investigators don\u2019t receive the support they expect, according to UNISON\u2019s findings.<\/p>\n
About 30% of the surveyed CSIs say they have never been offered access to a core police service support package, while 33% have taken time off because of ill-health linked to their job.<\/p>\n
UNISON is urging the UK police service and individual forces to guarantee CSIs at least one paid shift to recover following attendance at a traumatic scene. The union\u2014which includes over 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy\u2014says government investment is also needed to tackle chronic understaffing and \u201cprotect the wellbeing of workers essential to a functioning justice system.\u201d<\/p>\n