Covert Authorities Compliance Officer (MO5) in London

Location: Westminster

Salary: £40,519 starting salary, including allowances totalling £3,009: £37,510 basic salary, £2,009 location allowance, £1,000 non‑pensionable allowance.

Hours per Week: 36 hours per week

Type of Contract: Permanent Full Time

Position Summary

Ensuring the Metropolitan Police Service uses covert powers—surveillance, intelligence gathering, and other investigative authorities—appropriately, ethically and in full compliance with relevant legislation such as the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and the Police Act 1997. Contributing to the New Met for London (NMfL) plan and maintaining high standards of governance and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

• Quality assurance of covert authority applications to ensure compliance with IPA, RIPA and Police Act 1997.
• Update and monitor the Metropolitan Police Covert Authorities (MPCA) computer systems to maintain accurate record management.
• Review applications due for renewal, review, cancellation or modification, ensuring they are completed within designated timescales and comply with legislation and Codes of Practice.
• Provide advice and support to operational officers, superintendents, commanders and assistant commissioners regarding covert authority completion.
• Monitor application submissions to identify priority and urgent applicants in line with NMfL principles.
• Present applications to commanders and assistant commissioners on behalf of the applicant when required.
• Coordinate liaising with other law‑enforcement agencies, such as the Prison Service and the Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office.
• Support training of operational staff/officers at all levels.
• Mentor new MO5 staff members, aiding their development and knowledge of investigatory practices.
• Perform any other duties directed by the line manager.

Essential Criteria

• Highly proficient in IT, rapidly adopting and optimising new systems, software and digital tools.
• Strong communication skills at all levels, providing clear guidance and support across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to identify, analyse and mitigate risk while maintaining high governance standards and ensuring full legal compliance across operational activity.
• Adapts quickly to new roles with a thoughtful learning approach, strong attention to detail and a quality‑focused mindset.
• Demonstrated track record of managing and prioritising workloads effectively, even under significant time pressure.
• Willingness to undergo Management Vetting (MV) and Security Clearance (SC).

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of RIPA 2000, IPA 2016 and the Human Rights Act 1998.
• Understanding or experience of operational policing and intelligence functions.

Disability Confident Statement

The Met is committed to being an equitable and inclusive employer for disabled people, striving for a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people with disabilities and long‑term conditions, ethnic minority groups and women. As a Disability Confident Leader, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of everyday practice, ensuring reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process so disabled applicants can perform at their best. All adjustments are handled confidentially.