The hidden cost of forensic work
(Posted on 28/10/25)
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A new survey by UNISON has revealed startling figures: 84% of crime-scene investigators report their work has an adverse impact on their mental health.
Key findings include:
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78% said their workload had increased over the past year.
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56% indicated staff cuts had taken place in their department.
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Nearly a third (30%) said they had never even been offered what the union described as a core support package.
As UNISON puts it: “Crime scene investigators are paying a terrible price for their dedication to public safety … yet too often their suffering is overlooked, ignored or dismissed.”
What this means for justice
At Inside Justice, we work every day with individuals who have been wrongly convicted — and many of the errors behind those miscarriages stem from overstretched, under-resourced forensic and investigative systems. When forensic teams are subject to excessive trauma, long hours and minimal support, the risk of error, burnout or oversight increases. Justice isn’t just about the guilty being held to account — it’s also about ensuring the innocent are protected and that investigation and review are carried out with maximum rigour and care.
Our stance
We believe that the wellbeing of forensic professionals is a matter of justice, not just organisational policy. To that end we call for:
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Dedicated recovery time after exposure to traumatic scenes, as standard and without stigma.
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Fully-resourced mental-health support for forensic departments, including trauma-informed counselling, peer support and confidential access.
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Sustainable staffing and workload models so that forensic work doesn’t rest on heroic individuals but is embedded in a system that safeguards both performance and people.
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Recognition of linkages between workforce wellbeing and the integrity of justice outcomes. The health of the system depends on the health of its people.
We urge policymakers, forensic science leadership and justice oversight bodies to take this issue seriously — swift investment, transparent policies and cultural change are needed if we are to preserve trust in forensic science and the criminal-justice system more broadly.
