Alex McGinnies, Training Officer
Formerly a soldier in the Parachute Regiment, Alex joined Strathclyde Police as a Force Support Officer in 1992, operating in the role of ‘Turnkey' at Stewart Street police office, "A" division. From there he transferred to "N" division to undertake the role of Station Assistant.
Alex joined the Scottish Criminal Record Office in 2001 as a fingerprint trainee and in 2004 became the first person to qualify as a fingerprint officer under the modular route in Scotland.
Now employed as the Training Officer for SPSA Forensic Services he is responsible for the training of fingerprint experts, trainee fingerprint experts, tenprint clerks and tenprint officers in the Glasgow bureau. As a member of the training team he participates in the planning and co-ordination of training provision throughout the service.
Alex says working in the field of fingerprint identification is both challenging and extremely rewarding.
"I really enjoy working in the training department as it has enabled me to be involved with the professional development of new and existing personnel within the fingerprint service.
"I have recently been involved in assisting the Glasgow Science Centre prepare workshops for school children on fingerprint identification and providing lectures to Police probationers at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan. Working on such varied projects not only keeps me very busy but also ensures no two days are ever the same."