Rachel Lyus: An inspiration for women and girls in science

In celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we want to highlight the inspiring journey of Rachel Lyus. Rachel is one of our Senior Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) who has dedicated her career to forensics. This day reminds us of the critical role women and girls play in science and technology communities. Rachel's story is proof to the power of passion and perseverance.

Rachel began her career with Essex Police in 2015, starting in the Crime Bureau where she handled non-emergency phone calls and crime recording. After two and a half years, she went into the role of CSI, a position she has held for the past seven years. This year marks her 10-year anniversary with the force.

Rachel's inspiration to pursue a career in forensics came from her mother. As a teenager, Rachel and her mum would watch forensic dramas and documentaries together, sparking her fascination with the field.

"When I doubted if I was smart enough to pursue the career I wanted, she always taught me the sky was the limit. Especially when it came to applying to go to university, being that I was the first person in my family to go, it felt like a huge leap.
"I was sure I wanted to work in Forensics from the age of about 11. When I went to university, I found a love of Forensic Anthropology and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI). I was very torn between the two paths, but ultimately decided CSI was the route I wanted to take because I wanted the variety the role offers."

Throughout her career, Rachel has been inspired by many colleagues who have encouraged and guided her. Her goal was to become a Senior CSI and train as a Crime Scene Manager (CSM), both of which she has recently achieved.

“My current goal is to keep learning and developing, to gain as much experience in crime scene management and to be a good line manager to those that I work with.”

Rachel finds immense satisfaction in the variety and unpredictability of her role.

"There are so many positives to my role, and I truly believe it’s an amazing job. You rarely know what the day holds when you leave for work. You see so many different places and unimaginable things. You meet people from all walks of life, both when engaging with victims of crime and with the different professionals we work alongside."

As a CSM, she enjoys the challenges and decision-making involved in managing cases from start to finish.

"Seeing a case right the way through from the initial scene attendance to submissions and ensuring everything is ready for trial is really rewarding. I enjoy managing such a wonderful team and celebrating their successes."

However, the job also comes with its challenges. The same variety that makes the role exciting can also be demanding. Long hours, extreme weather conditions, and emotionally taxing scenes are part of the job. Yet, Rachel believes that the role is what you make of it, and the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Rachel's work has had a significant impact on many lives. From finding crucial evidence at crime scenes to providing comfort to victims, her contributions have been invaluable. One memorable case involved an arson scene where she found a device that yielded a full DNA profile, leading to the identification of a suspect.

“There have been so many memorable moments in my career already and so many which have had a real impact on me.
"One of them was attending an arson scene which had significant fire damage and being inexperienced, I walked in feeling like getting any forensic opportunities would surely be impossible. There was a component of the device which had not been damaged by the fire which would be likely to yield DNA. We sent the item off which yielded a full DNA profile and identified a suspect. I always remember that job, and while we aren’t always fortunate enough to have such a positive outcome, it taught me to go into every scene open minded and optimistic.
“Ultimately, helping to deliver justice and offer some closure to victims and their families is why we all do what we do”

Rachel has valuable advice for those looking to pursue a career in crime scene investigation.

"Say yes to every opportunity. You'll always regret the things you didn't do more, and if it were easy, it wouldn't be worthwhile.
"Be scared and do it anyway. A great example of this is public speaking, which I used to hate. Despite this, I have said yes every time I have been asked to do a talk or a presentation on crime scene investigation, and now public speaking is something I would consider myself to be good at."

Rachel also reflects on the importance of self-belief and living in the moment.

"The most important opinion of you is your own. Live for the moment, don't place so much weight in other people's opinions of you, and stop doubting what you are capable of. Just go for it.”

Rachel's journey is just one of many inspiring stories within Essex Police.

Essex Police offers a wide range of roles that are science-led.

From forensic scientists and crime scene investigators to digital forensics experts and data analysts, our team is at the forefront of using science and technology to solve crimes and keep our community safe.

Imagine being part of a team that uses cutting-edge technology to uncover hidden evidence, analyse data to track down criminals, or apply forensic science to bring justice to victims. Whether you're collecting DNA samples at a crime scene, examining digital footprints, or using advanced software to analyse crime patterns, your work will have a direct impact on solving cases and making Essex a safer place.

At Essex Police, we value difference. We know we’re strongest when we work together. And we want a workforce that represents our communities. 

If you share our values and want to help people, keep people safe and catch criminals, then join us as a police officer, member of staff, special constable or volunteer.

Find out if you fit the bill