well-being Archives - Forensic Focus

A Stab Vest Is Protection. DFIR “Resilience” Is Not.

17th September 2026

We would never tell a police officer to face a blade with “resilience” instead of body armour, so why do we expect digital forensic investigators to face repeated trauma with little more than resilience to protect them?

The Sound Of Silence – What Institutional Silence On DFI Well-Being Actually Tells Us

10th September 2026

When six organisations receive evidence that one in five digital forensic investigators meet the clinical threshold for suicidal or self-harm ideation, and only one responds, what does that silence say about who is looking out for the profession?

“The Skills And Resilience To Do One Of The Hardest Jobs In Policing” — Why This DFIR Recruitment Language Gets The Evidence Wrong

3rd September 20263rd September 2026

Does recruiting for “resilience” risk putting responsibility in the wrong place? Paul Gullon-Scott looks at what the evidence says about digital forensic well-being, workload and organisational support, and why the language we use matters.

Walk A Mile In Their Shoes: The Hidden World Of The Digital Forensic Investigator

2nd September 202627th August 2026

What happens when disturbing material in a CSAM investigation has to be read, not viewed? Paul Gullon-Scott examines the psychological impact of messages, descriptions and AI prompts on digital forensic investigators.

Impact, Coping And Support – Further Reflections From The DFIR Well-Being Study

20th August 2026

What does repeated exposure to traumatic digital evidence really do to investigators? Phil Anderson returns to the Forensic Focus Podcast to unpack more findings from the international well-being study.

£2.4 Million For UK Police Well-Being – What Will It Actually Buy?

18th August 2026

Paul Gullon-Scott examines whether £2.4m for police well-being is enough to turn good national initiatives into meaningful support on the ground.

New DFIR Mental Health Training Webinar (CPD-Accredited)

18th August 2026

New CPD-accredited training from our Well-Being Lead, Paul Gullon-Scott, is now available to help digital forensic investigators and their organisations better understand and manage the psychological demands of the role — book your place today.

Protecting Those Who Protect Children: Inspection Findings And The Evidence Base For Investigator Well-Being

28th August 202613th August 2026

A major new HMICFRS report exposes the urgent need for proactive, mandatory mental health support for digital forensic investigators and others working daily with online child sexual abuse material.

Misconduct Or Mental Injury? A Question Policing Can No Longer Avoid

10th August 2026

Can trauma show up as misconduct? Paul Gullon-Scott explores how cumulative trauma and organisational stress can shape behaviour in policing and digital forensics and why earlier, trauma-informed support could make all the difference.

Ticking A Box, Missing The Person – Reflections From FEE 2026

4th August 2026

What happens when mental health support for digital forensic investigators becomes a tick-box exercise? Paul Gullon-Scott explores the troubling gap between recognising psychological risk and providing the relational, long-term support DFIs actually need.

Forensic Focus Briefs National Policing and Forensic Bodies on Investigator Well-Being

15th July 2026

Evidence from the Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study has been formally submitted to Parliament and to the national bodies responsible for policing standards, practitioner welfare and forensic quality in the UK. Here’s who we’ve briefed, what we’re asking for, and