Julia Darby

Julia Darby - Forensic Multimedia Officer

Julia Darby spends her working day scanning crime scenes and producing visualisations to help bring offenders to justice. As a forensic multimedia officer, her caseload includes murders and other major crimes.

“We think about the best way of presenting evidence,” she said. “We take 360-degree images and can use the data to create floor plans, fly-throughs and maps. We have 3D models as well.”

Here, Julia, 24, tells us about her career journey. It all began when she applied to University of Staffordshire through Clearing and took a BSc (Hons) degree in Forensic Investigation.

“Coming to Staffordshire was the best decision I ever made”

Julia was just weeks into a Film Studies course at a London university when she realised she wanted to change direction. “It was during Covid and it wasn’t what I expected,” she recalled.

That’s when she decided to apply to University of Staffordshire at the tail end of Clearing. She chose the University partly because of its national reputation in forensics and policing.

“My grandad was a police officer back in the day. He was a big inspiration for why I went from film to forensics. I realised there were lots of transferable skills.”

Switching universities at the last minute was daunting. Julia said: “I arrived about two weeks into the term. But Staffordshire was really supportive and helpful. If I had any questions, they would pass me on to the right people.

“I think my life would be very different now if I had stayed in London doing my original course. It wouldn’t have got me where I am now.”

“The degree was very hands-on, very practical and very useful”

Julia found her niche studying Forensic Investigation and gained a wide range of skills for her career.

She said: “The degree gave me an overall understanding of forensics. The facilities were also really good. You could create crime scene scenarios and use a mock courtroom.

“There was one module that looked at going from crime scene to court, where you did all the roles. It gave me an idea of what each role involved, from being a CSI and taking photographs and collecting evidence, through to analysing it in a lab setting, and then presenting it in court. It was really useful.

“I did modules on digital forensics as well. I looked at how to download phone data and computer data. The module I loved the most was on multimedia. We learnt how to use Photoshop and Premier Pro and do different techniques.”

From cold cases to becoming a forensic volunteer

Julia’s advice to other students is to build up as much experience as possible while doing the degree course.

She spent a year working as a forensic volunteer with West Midlands Police. One of her lecturers had helped her to secure the role. “I would go there once a week and they helped me with my final-year project,” she said.

The voluntary work involved offering administrative support, but it also gave her the opportunity to be in the room with real forensic professionals. She would ask them questions and built contacts.

Julia also volunteered with University of Staffordshire’s Cold Case Unit. It’s where students work as part of an international team, reviewing cases files of real missing people and researching new lines of enquiry.

“I really enjoyed it. We looked at an historic case where a body had been found. We were looking at their clothing and fibres and tracing that back. It involved a lot of research.”

From university to frontline forensics

Julia joined Thames Valley Police shortly after graduating from University of Staffordshire in 2023. She initially worked as a CCTV operator before landing her current role as a forensic multimedia officer 10 months later.

“It’s very applicable to what I learnt at university because my course was so hands-on,” she said. “I get to use the skills I enjoy, including editing and digital skills. I get to experiment as well.”

Julia attends crime scenes to capture 360-degree images using a laser scanner. It can take a day to scan an entire house. The digital equipment also takes critical measurements.

“We bring that back and create visualisations. From the data, we can create fly-throughs. You could have a house and see all the rooms in it.”

Julia also edits 999 calls so the evidence can be presented in court. Whether creating a floor plan or 3D model, her work helps to bring crime scenes to life for juries.

“A lot of police forces don’t have laser scanners yet, so it’s a developing area,” she added. “All our jobs involve major crimes – murders, rapes, GBH and other assaults, and serious road traffic collisions.”

The best part is knowing she’s making a difference in securing justice for crime victims.

Course studied

Forensic Investigation