Deputy Head of Confidential Unit

Title of Post: Deputy Head of Confidential Unit

Reports To: Head of Confidential Unit

Main Duties

The Deputy Head of the Confidential Unit (CU) will support the Head of the CU in ensuring the functions of the Unit are carried out and will provide management resilience for the wider activities of the CU.

Whilst supporting the Head of CU, the role will include the development of a Technical Support Unit (TSU). The aspiration of the TSU will be to provide professional guidance and leadership in the provision of innovative technical and digital solutions and exploitation of digital evidence opportunities in support of the Police Ombudsmans investigations. The post holder will in time lead the TSU.

Key Responsibilities

1. To support, assist and contribute to the aims and objectives of the Impact Department by working collaboratively with other teams/units within the Department.
2. To provide management resilience for the CU to include, supervision of processes for requesting, handling and retention of sensitive information from PSNI and other agencies, the provision of analytical services and to support all disclosure processes in respect of material held by the CU, ensuring that all current processes are adhered to.
3. In the absence of the Head of the CU to perform the role of gatekeeper in respect of applications under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), and the Investigative Powers Commissioners Office (IPCO).
4. To support the Head of the CU with records management of all records held, created or used as part of the business, including corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails, in line with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Law Enforcement Directive as well as the Data Protection Act 2018.
5. To oversee processes for applications to the IPCO for communications data, ensuring internal policies and practices are compliant with related legislation and codes of practice are complied with.
6. To manage and safeguard digital information product obtained from extraction of data from devices and/or downloading from third parties.
7. To implement and have oversight of processes for the downloading of case related digital information received from members of the public and other third parties.
8. To oversee Single Point of Contact (SPOC) communications data applications in relation to requests for information from social media providers.
9. To oversee and lead on Open Source research, ensuring all such activity is undertaken by trained members of the CU, in compliance with related legislated and CU practice.
10. To oversee the process to enable investigators to efficiently access, secure and retain sensitive Body Worn Video Evidence from PSNI.
11. To ensure compliance with Section 75 duties of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 by having due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity between:

• Persons of different religious beliefs, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation;
• Men and women generally;
• Persons with a disability and persons without;
• Persons with dependants and persons without.

Envisaged TSU Responsibilities

1. To oversee, lead on and manage staff and processes in respect of the TSUs extraction of information from digital devices, including mobile telephones.
2. To task and co-ordinate the development of analytical and other products derived from communications data, open source research and extractions from digital devices/systems.
3. To develop working relationships with stakeholders in the use of digital resources to ensure the secure transfer of information between the Police Ombudsmans Office and external stakeholders.
4. To attend investigations case conferences to provide advice on digital solutions, technical lines of enquiry and the handling of digital devices.
5. To manage inspections of PONI by IPCO to ensure organisational compliance with any directions and/or advice. To ensure that observations or recommendations arising from inspections are implemented.
6. To develop relationships with stakeholders in order to maintain currency in respect of exploitation of digital evidence opportunities and to provide related periodic briefings to investigators.
7. To ensure the processing of personal data for law enforcement purposes complies with data protection principles.
8. To ensure policies and processes relevant to the duties of the TSU are developed and are appropriately maintained.
9. To produce reports on the range of activities undertaken by TSU, as requested by the Head of CU or ELT.
10. Any other relevant duties appropriate to the grade, as may be required.

Essential Criteria

1. Must be a substantive Deputy Principal Grade or equivalent.*
2. Must hold Develop Vetted Security Clearance or be willing to attain.
3. Demonstrate an aptitude for and interest in developing technical expertise in the area of digital evidence gathering and wider IT skills.
4. A working knowledge of the operational application of powers regulated by RIPA and IPA.
5. Experience of developing effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
6. Experience of leading a team and/or managing staff.

Desirable Criteria

1. Experience of conducting Open Source Research.
2. Experience of writing complex and detailed reports in support of investigations and briefings to senior management.
3. Experience in counter corruption and/or covert investigations.

* Deputy Principal Grade or equivalent equates to a role in line with this grade in the NICS

Salary Scale based on 2023 NICS Payscales £42,315-£45,351