subject: What Sort Of Training Does One Need To Become A Forensic Locksmith? [print this page] Before proceeding to explore the sort of training that one needs in order to become a forensic locksmith, it would be essential for us to have a brief overview on whom the forensic locksmith is, and what he is involved in on a day to day basis. This we would be doing out of appreciation for the fact that many people are unfamiliar with these professionals, and it wouldn't be altogether far-fetched to speculate that some of us may be encountering the term 'forensic locksmith' for the very first time in this discussion. These are the sort of professionals that many people are simply unfamiliar with, and that is understandable because most of their work tends to be done 'behind the scenes.'
As it turns out, the forensic locksmith is a 'lock and key specialist' who is involved in investigative work. As we may recall, a locksmith, in general, is a professional (or an artisan, depending on how you choose to look at him), who is involved in the making of locks and the keys for them. He is also the person who has expertise in the workings of locks, so that in the event of your losing the keys to your lock, he can work out a way of defeating the lock- so that you don't have to break down the door to the facility secured with the lock.
But it so often happens that other people, using similar knowledge in the workings of locks, defeat the locks to various facilities and go on to commit crimes inside. This is, for instance, where one defeats the lock to a particular facility, and goes on to steal from the facility. Naturally, the owners of the facility will go to report the incident to the police. And it is when we get to the investigation stage, soon thereafter, that the forensic locksmith is called in: to shed light on the methods that may have been used to defeat the lock and gain access to whatever facility, in order to commit the crime in question. In most well endowed investigative jurisdictions, where a crime involving the defeat of a lock is reported, the forensic locksmith has to be called in. He is also usually involved in the eventual prosecution of the suspects following the crime, with his testimony often going a long way toward the consolidation of the prosecution's case.
So, what sort of training does one need to become a forensic locksmith?
Well, the training to be a forensic locksmith tends to be two-pronged. The forensic locksmith is first trained in general investigative work. He has to be a well grounded detective. Mostly, he goes through the sort of training that all other detectives go through. Then the locksmith has to be trained in locksmithing, and be extremely well versed in the craft. He needs advanced skills in the craft, so that he can see things that the average person, even the average locksmith, cannot see. The forensic locksmith's work is also likely to put him in conflict with some rather nasty characters, and it can help a great deal if he has some general training in self defense and related areas. Inasmuch as he is seen doing investigative work on the scene of crime, and inasmuch as he is seen testifying in court against the suspects, he is likely to get into the criminals' bad books, hence the need for this self-defense training.
So, in the final analysis, we see general investigative training as well as specialized training in locksmithing being absolutely essential, if one is to become a forensic locksmith. We also see some training in self defense and related skills being something that can be useful to the forensic locksmith; seeing the sensitive nature of the some of the issues he is likely to find himself investigating.
