Personal Competency Testing in Firearms-Related Forensic Disciplines: A UK Study

The Forensic Science Society, as the professional body for forensic practitioners, has developed a model to endorse individual competence in a number of forensic disciplines; this is known as a Certificate of Professional Competence. This article discusses research undertaken in the UK on behalf of The Forensic Science Society, which aims to determine the need to extend Certificates of Competence into areas of firearms-related forensic disciplines. An extensive questionnaire was disseminated to practitioners and professionals working in the forensic firearms community to ascertain their opinions relating to personal competency testing, factors influencing completion of such testing and identification of areas in which Certificates of Competence could be developed in the future.

Respondents within the firearms community typically support The Forensic Science Society developing these certificates for a range of professionals including firearms examiners, technicians, GSR analysts, armourers, authorised firearms officers as well as, potentially, scene of crime officers. In the first instance, four discipline areas have been identified as a priority for certificate development. The Society is now liaising with professionals in the community to design the assessment content for the four proposed Certificates of Competence.