The US crime show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is beamed to millions of people across the globe, highlighting the work of forensic scientists.

Now fans of the TV show, and those interested in crime-fighting, can learn the tricks of the trade at Hartlepool College of Further Education, in Stockton Road.

CSI Hartlepool is a free, six-week introductory course on forensics and criminology that lecturers promise will be an eye-opening experience.

Jacqui Paylor, who runs the course, said: "It is a really interesting course that gives people a taster of how things work. It is also fun, but it can be a bit grisly in places.

"It's very much of the moment with various TV programmes based on forensics and that can only be a good thing for the subject and education.

"The course is for people who want to expand their knowledge. They can use it as a stand-alone course or they can come in and get a feel for the college."



Mrs Paylor says several students, who completed the course after it first started 12 months ago, have gone on to access-to-learning courses with a view to going to university.

One student has made it on to the CSI degree course at Teesside University, which has an interactive room for crime scenes and a mock court room.

Mrs Paylor added: "We have had people aged from 17 to 60-plus coming on to the course. It's proving to be a very good platform to get people back into education."

The course covers a variety of subjects including how to work a crime scene, criminal profiling, forensic science and punishment, with students also let loose on their own mock crime scene.

Those taking part are also asked to look at case studies, including those of Rachel Nickell, who was stabbed to death on Wimbledon Common in 1992, and eight-year-old Sarah Payne, who was murdered in Crawley in 2000.

For more information about the course, ring student services on (01429) 295111.