Regional Technical Surveillance Officer

The South West Regional Technical Surveillance Unit covertly support proactive and reactive investigations into both volume and serious organised crime across the South West, bringing offenders to justice and protecting the public from serious harm or loss.

Our team support investigations involving local constabularies, the SWROCU, and surveillance teams around the South West and beyond.

An opportunity has arisen for someone to become part of this specialist team providing innovative and essential support to a wide variety of customers based in law enforcement capturing intelligence to progress an investigation or evidence to secure a conviction.

This role is highly specialist and dynamic for which you will undergo several courses with the opportunity to become proficient in many varied aspects of covert policing.

You will have the opportunity to develop specialist knowledge and skills in aspects of technical surveillance.  Your work will be varied, challenging and rewarding engaging with members of the public and law enforcement colleagues to achieve positive outcomes – providing a first class service and making a tangible difference.

In this role, your Main Responsibilities will be:-

• To design, develop and deploy technical solutions, carrying out sensitive and covert deployments in both compliant and intrusive environments to tackle all levels of crime, supporting investigations into serious and organised criminality across the South West Region.
• Deploying a diverse range of bespoke and commercial equipment adapted to suit the operational requirement. Including visual imagery, audio technology, technical observation points, static and discreet CCTV, asset tracking, and audio and data exploitation.
• Consulting with Senior Officers in order to provide vital specialist tactical and technical advice, developing strategic plans for sensitive operations and investigations to meet operational and investigative needs.
• To sometimes work in environments involving heights or in confined spaces and using power tools or chemicals. The appropriate training will be provided and the necessary health and safety requirements applied.
• To cover a rotational on-call roster whereby additional pay allowances will be applied.

Skills and experience required:- 

• HND or HNC (or recognised BTEC) in electronics, radio or telecommunications or relevant workplace experience and ability to demonstrate up to date knowledge of relevant technologies;
• Previous knowledge/experience of at least one of the following: video, audio, optics, alarm, telecommunications, location and positioning equipment, information communication technology, mobile telephony, IP or WIFI technology
• Experience of working in a technical environment
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with ability to advise and influence to achieve objectives
• Ability to work autonomously in a challenging environment and make decisions balancing operational considerations against risk
• Demonstrate understanding of relevant legislation in connection with technical surveillance techniques (RIPA, Police Act, APP, ACPO Surveillance Manual of Standards and ECHR Act)
• Excellent problem solving skills with ability to develop technical and practical solutions
• Ability to deal with multiple demands under pressure
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel
• Full driving licence or be able to travel around the region by other means

There is a requirement for you to successfully complete the College of Police TSU Core skills Course (D7) and the Tactics for Technicians (D6) course; should you not successfully pass the required courses then we will not be in a positon to continue your contract of employment.

To be eligible to apply for this role you must have a 5 year ‘checkable history’ in the UK – ideally this means that you would have been resident in the UK for the last 5 years.

In line with the Joint Services Agreement, the successful internal candidate will remain on their home force terms & conditions and move onto the relevant pay scale for the advertised position:

Avon & Somerset scale PO3-6 plus applicable allowances

Devon & Cornwall Grade 9 (SCP 41 to 45) plus applicable allowances

Dorset Scale G (SCP 27 to 31) plus applicable allowances

Gloucestershire scale PO1-4 plus applicable allowances

Wiltshire scale W10 plus applicable allowances

Work on a bank or public holiday as part of the normal working week will be compensated in line with conditions of service.

For further information in respect of the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and how the unit disrupts serious and organised crime within the communities across the South West of England, please visit our website - www.swrocu.police.uk  

Following shortlisting there will be a technical assessment to assess basic technical skills; this will involve practical tool handling as well basic fault finding along with a working at heights assessment – this may be reviewed subject to COVID-19 restrictions.

Technical / practical assessments due to take place:- w/c 19th April 2021.

Please note the SW ROCU commuting policy is currently under review with Regional HR.

Does this sound like the role for you? Click on the Apply button below to apply. 

Why work for the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit?

The South West Regional Organised Crime Unit has gained a reputation as a pioneering and innovative collaboration, responsible for policing a large diverse, multi-cultural population across the region. If you are looking for a fresh challenge which offers a genuine opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives, variety and the chance to broaden your experience, then the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit will most definitely be of interest to you.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The South West Regional Organised Crime Unit is working hard to increase diversity and inclusion within the ROCU, where communities are currently under-represented including those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, people of all ages, abilities, faiths, religions, gender, LGBT communities and those from other disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds who share our values and wish to make a difference to the communities we serve.  All applications will be treated on merit, based on the evidence provided in your application and suitability for the role you have applied for.

Flexible working

All requests for flexible working patterns will be considered and will be dependent on the role.

Successful candidates will be expected to join an on call rota which will be recompensed in line with existing policy.

Recruitment and Selection Policy

Internal applicants who are at risk of redundancy or in need of redeployment and pass the selection process, will be offered the role over the remaining internal and external applicants.

Police Barred and Advisory lists

Individuals placed on the Police Barred and Advisory lists will not be considered for employment by the police for a minimum of 5 years from the date of listing in the case of gross misconduct, or 3 years from the date of listing in the case of poor performance.

Vetting and safeguarding

The South West Regional Organised Crime Unit are committed to safeguarding and operate safer recruitment processes, to ensure a police service that employees are proud to work for because they feel safe, valued and part of a happy and supportive work environment. All employees and volunteers therefore will be subject to background checks including vetting and references.