Forensic attention to detail wins award for CSI experience firm

A FORMER Metropolitan Police forensics officer has won an award for her immersive crime scene company.

The Forensic Experience won the top UK murder-mystery and team-building experience award at the Diamond Distinction Awards.

The accolade recognises businesses that demonstrate exceptional standards of service and excellence within their industry.

Hayley Scott, who lives near Henley, served 14 years in the police, examining more than 10,000 crime scenes from burglaries to murders, primarily in northwest London.

She said: “I went to university and studied criminology, but while I was there, I was in a domestic violence relationship for four years, and I’m lucky to be here.

“When I joined the force after I graduated, I went on to solve crimes, including assault. The first few cases were still quite raw and hard going, but I had counselling.

“It was quite rewarding and empowering to think I’ve come through that and then be able to help other victims.”

The business idea originated eight years ago after she left the force to become a full-time mum when her husband, a Metropolitan Police detective, was diagnosed with cancer. He is now in remission.

“We wouldn’t have the company if it weren’t for my son,” she said, “He asked if we could have a business like one of his friend’s mums, but I thought there wasn’t anything I could do with my career and background in forensics.

“After he asked and I created a crime scene-themed party for him and his friends, all the mums were asking for an adult version, and it made me believe I could put something together.”

The experience replicates real investigations, utilising authentic police procedures and equipment sourced from the same provider as police forces.

The company visits people in their own homes to stage the investigations and can also use pre-booked venues including car parks and offices.

She said: “I use a hyper-realistic £10,000 silicon body, made at a famous film studio by artists who make bodies for a well-known BBC drama.

“It’s not gruesome, but it’s very realistic and does look like somebody who’s dead.”

Guests, who range between groups of six to 60, arrive at the crime scene where they receive a forensic briefing before listening to suspect interviews, devising a strategy and performing practical tests, including DNA screening, UV light analysis and fingerprint dusting.

She said: “I create a script for the actors who play suspects and record interview videos I show at the event.

“When the guests meet the police officer at the crime scene cordon, they sign in and put their protective clothing on.

“They then have a forensic briefing to find out as much as possible, listening to the videos from the suspect before they decide a forensic strategy and go off to do the practical parts.”

One anecdote she commonly shares is of a serial arsonist she encountered in her line of duty.

“They kept setting fire to different toilets over a period of weeks, but I managed to catch them because a little bit of toilet paper that they touched hadn’t turned to ash,” she said.

“I sent if off for a chemical treatment called ninhydrin, which is used to find finger marks on paper and we found some finger marks, but they weren’t on the criminal record database.

“We did have CCTV, so when the officers went to their home address, we compared the marks and they admitted to it in the interview.”

Following a diagnosis of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as broken heart syndrome, in May, Hayley decided to scale up her business with the support of new employees.

She said: “I had a wake-up call which made me realise I have a great business that wasn’t really running properly, and the opportunities weren’t being optimised.

“So, in September, I hired a marketing lady to help me focus on murder mysteries, team building and schools.”

She hopes to recruit and train a team of people across the UK to broaden the business and make it a household name.