ROCU - Cover Officer - 6 Month FTC

REGIONAL ORGANISED CRIME UNIT FOR THE WEST MIDLANDS JOB DESCRIPTION 1. Purpose To reduce crime and disorder and make our communities feel safer by managing the threat, risk and harm caused by serious and organised crime groups, through the effective management and use of undercover operatives and operations available to the West Midlands Region. 2. Objectives To provide the West Midlands Region with a centre of excellence through which the management of undercover operations, covert intelligence and evidence collection via undercover activity can be conducted with confidence and professionalism. To ensure that the organisation’s undercover intelligence and evidential activities are at all times lawful and compliant with relevant legislation. To provide support to both proactive and reactive operations tasked by Regional Tasking, in particular operations targeting serious and organised crime, especially around guns, gangs, serious acquisitive crime, drugs and child sexual exploitation. 3. Main duties governed by RIPA 2000 The cover officer is an individual allocated to an undercover operation by the COM-UC. Cover officers report directly to the Covert Operations Manager [COM UC] who has legal oversight. Cover officers are responsible for UCO security and welfare. Cover officers are independent of the operational team and work under the direction of the undercover unit while undertaking cover officer duties. See section 29(5) (a)/29(4A) (a) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA). Officers should have attended and passed the national cover officer course to undertake this role. Cover officers should be fully conversant with current law, procedures and guidelines relevant to undercover operations – this includes disclosure and revelation issues. Where a UCO is donated by a law enforcement agency, the donor unit should allocate a cover officer to act as a conduit between the host cover officer and the donor unit. Cover officer key functions Make sure UCO welfare and security needs are met and documented Make sure there is proper oversight and management of UCOs and tactics Manage UCOs on a day-to-day basis. Make sure the deployment management record and other records are maintained throughout deployments in line with legislation, APP and standard operating procedures Make sure records are maintained throughout subsequent court proceedings and include any ongoing risk management and welfare Maintain the agreed sterile corridor between UCOs and certain members of the operational and prosecution teams as appropriate Provide updates on the UCO’s welfare, deployment and any other relevant and brief the COM-UC, authorising officer and (where appropriate) the operational lead Make sure appropriate deconfliction processes exist Provide tactical and operational advice to the operational team on all aspects of undercover deployments Make sure equipment is provided for operations Make sure operational expenditure is made available Knowledge skills and experience Essential Accredited Licensed Cover Officer by College of policing Knowledge of Overt and Covert police tactics Knowledge of CPIA (Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996) Potential to undertake sensitive enquiries and therefore exhibit high standards of integrity, confidentiality and professionalism. This includes digesting complex operational plans and managing highly sensitive information within the Government Security Classification (GSC) and Security Policy Framework (SPF). Knowledge of RIPA 2000, CHIS Codes of Practice and College of Policing UC APP Ability to be able to undertake sensitive taskings with limited supervision. Demonstrate ability to prioritise and manage competing demands. Demonstrate ability to manage threat, risk and be able to apply dynamic control measures. Effective interpersonal communication skills: including verbal and written. The post holder will be articulate, methodical, conscientious and concise. Ability to build positive relationships with colleagues, internal and external partners. Experience of and ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative, effectively planning and organising activities and resources to meet objectives. Ability to work under pressure, prioritise workloads and produce accurate work within tight deadlines. Cultural competence across all communities and the protected characteristics within the Equality Act. Desirable: Investigative background Knowledge of investigation techniques. Hours of work Cover officer roles may require the need to work on a shift pattern which could encompass early mornings, late evening shifts and weekends. There is a requirement to work flexibly at all times with due regard to prevailing workloads and priorities. There may be a requirement at times to travel to other locations within the region and nationally. Due to the nature of this role it is essential that cover officers are flexible in terms of their working location and are prepared to work temporarily at other locations. The ability to locate within the Regional area at short notice. Other Information You will report directly to a Detective Sergeant (ROCU) for Regional Undercover Unit and the appropriate Authorising Officer. (Assistant Chief Constable or Chief Constable) You will be expected to be able to brief senior officers Diversity and Inclusion At ROCU WM, we aim to maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities. We welcome applications from all underrepresented groups, as Regional Undercover Unit are actively looking to improve the diverse representation on the team. Under positive action provisions within the Equalities Act 2010, we welcome applications from underrepresented groups. Benefit Statement By choosing to join West Midlands Police you will receive an enhanced benefits package including: Fair remuneration with progression opportunities and access to a very competitive pension scheme. Enhanced annual leave in addition to public holiday entitlements. Discounts across travel, parking, daily costs of living and leisure activities. A comprehensive wellbeing package including 24/7 support, free eye tests and flu jabs. Vetting: Successful applicants will be required to pass Management Vetting and Security Clearance scrutiny prior to commencing their role, this will include a full background & financial disclosure as part of the vetting process. Medical: Appointment to this role will be dependent upon successfully medical checks, which may include a drugs test and if required a fitness test. P rospective officers and staff must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members of the public, and that therefore their right to privacy can be fettered in certain circumstances. This is to ensure that members of the police are fully aware and accountable for the unique powers entrusted to them and the standards of professional behaviour they swear to uphold. West Midlands Police is a Disability Confident Leader – the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions. As part of our commitment we operate a ‘Disability Confident Interview Scheme’ – all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview. It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example: in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non-disabled applicants. “Diversity and Inclusion Vision: Maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities”