CADRE TACTICAL FIREARMS COMMANDER
Expressions of interest are sought from substantive Superintendents, Chief Inspectors and Inspectors who are looking for an exciting and challenging opportunity to further develop their skills by becoming a Tactical Firearms Commander. Once qualified you will support the Joint Operations Unit by commanding armed policing operations throughout the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Thames Valley Police areas. This is an additional skill, not a full time role.
Terms of Reference
The role of Tactical Firearms Commander provides an excellent opportunity to develop and demonstrate operational command skills, and to expose yourself to protective security events, intelligence and the covert policing world.
The role of the TFC is pivotal to the success of every firearms operation, you will be expected to work calmly whilst under pressure, often in high threat, fast moving environments where your skills as a commander will be tested. You will have the ability to accurately assess threat, risk and harm utilising the NDM to create an achievable working strategy to minimise risk and maximise safety accordingly.
You will work closely with internal and external partners on a wide variety of tasks, always seeking to achieve best evidence and protect the public. Each shift is different and on a day to day basis you could be expected to deal with any situation ranging from a spontaneous firearms incident to a planned protective security event or firearms operation to a terror attack such as Forbury Gardens in 2020, as well as undertaking assessments to decide whether armed support is needed at all.
After initial training (spontaneous and planned courses) you will maintain your skills through CPD days and other ongoing training events. You will need to attend firearms training and observe the teams from ARV, Protection Group and CTFSO undergoing tactical training which will increase your knowledge base.
In short, as a TFC when things are at their worst you will need to be at your best. You can expect to be at the forefront of incidents and operations that carry the highest level of risk, working closely with Strategic and Operational Firearms Commanders. You will be responsible for making the tactical decisions that really matter to enable our teams to resolve all incidents in the safest and most proportionate manner, returning the local area to normality and maintaining confidence in the Police.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Cadre Commander you will support the TFC rota across the JOU. Due to the specialist nature of the role and associated training costs there is an expectation of a minimum return of service of 2 years.
Once trained and accredited you will support the JOU TFC rota as the duty TFC working a combination of Early and Late shifts plus On Call. At the present time this equates to 14 TFC duties over a 16 week rolling pattern. The shifts are a combination of earlies and lates:
- ETCADRE 0800 – 1600
- LT CADRE 1600 – 0001 (On Call after 0000 via FIM)
During a typical shift you could expect to deal with a variety of situations (not exhaustive):
Complete Firearms risk assessments (F1/FIA).
Chair a Firearms risk assessment meeting (FRAM).
Give Firearms advice to other departments or agencies.
Deal with Cross Border protocols.
Manage planned operations that require a TFC.
Take a transfer of command for ongoing spontaneous firearms incidents.
Take command of Crimes in Action.
Take on the role of Siege Tactical or Ground assigned commander.
TRAINING AND ACCREDITATION
- Attend and pass initial TFC course followed by up to 10 days consolidation with a FIM to obtain operational competence in Spontaneous Firearms Command
- Attend and pass Cadre TFC course followed by consolidation with Cadre TFC mentor to obtain operational competence in Planned Command
- Attend CPD Command training twice a year
- Maintain a portfolio of Operational competence
- Complete refresher training (3 - 5 years)
ADMINISTRATION
The post holder will be entitled to the following:
- On Call allowance
- Mileage
- Enhanced clothing items (ballistics for ground assigned TFC)
SECURITY and VETTING
- The post holder must obtain SC vetting (minimum)
Expressions of interest must be submitted by 2359hrs on 30th September 2025 and must be supported by your Chief Superintendent/Superintendent. They should be submitted to T/CI Sarah Godsmark (sarah.godsmark@thamesvalley.police.uk) in the form of one page of A4 detailing your reasons for applying and any relevant experience including evidence of operational decision making.
Please include with your submission any dates to avoid (Annual leave/Court commitments) to allow for scheduling of courses. The next courses being run by the JOU are:
Initial TFC 3rd Nov to 12th Nov 2025
Cadre TFC 20th Nov to 28th Nov 2025
Initial TFC 9th Feb to 18th Feb 2026
Cadre TFC 26th Feb to 6th March 2026
We are particularly keen to receive applications from underrepresented groups including flexible workers or those on a job share, this is not a full time role, it’s an additional skill.
Unfortunately the rota is not compatible for those officers working on ICR/DPT or the TVP PACE cadre. We can accept applications from officers in those roles but they will be placed into a pool for a course until they are in a suitable role.
There will be a Teams drop in session on 19th September 2025 11:00 to 12:00 where the role will be explained further with the opportunity to ask questions of current TFC’s.
Teams link:
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 322 609 909 681 5
Passcode: D5MH2y9q
For an informal chat and more information on the role please speak to:
T/CI Sarah Godsmark 07971 603514
CI Ian Whyton 07768 866413
Insp Neal Harvey 07388 859319