Additional Role/Skill - Insp, C/Insp and Supt - Tactical Firearms Commander - Forcewide

Joint Operations Unit
Forcewide
Inspector
Additional Role - to be completed alongside your current day job

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

At Thames Valley Police (TVP) we work together to protect our communities.  Whether as an officer, staff member or volunteer, you will make a difference and play an important role in helping achieve our mission.  As you take on a role with pride and confidence, you will be supported, developed and valued, ensuring you can be at your best in the service of our communities. Learn more About Us.

Working Smart.  You will be joining an organisation that strives to improve every day.  In the post-pandemic era this means changing the way we work and deliver our services, which brings a number of benefits including a more flexible and capable workforce. 

Supporting You.  Your wellbeing and safety is at the heart of all we do.  Whilst you are doing the work that matters, we’ll be supporting you via a wide range of Wellbeing services, partnerships and initiatives.  We have a number of active staff support networks and buddy schemes which you will have access to and can be involved with. We are committed to building a workforce that better reflects the communities we serve and an inclusive culture that not only values, but finds strength in difference. We also offer a comprehensive range of benefits and discount schemes, some provided directly by the organisation and others via partnerships including Blue Light card.  Learn more about how we will be Supporting You.

Developing You.  We promote a culture where your continuous professional development and learning is actively encouraged and where people have the opportunity, and responsibility, to achieve their full potential. 

Vetting.  All posts require a level of Police Vetting as per the National Vetting Code of Practice. The residency requirement is necessary to enable all applicants to be checked in an equitable manner. Thames Valley Police will allow applicants to apply who do not necessarily reach the criteria as long as they have proven UK residency and supporting evidence where necessary. Applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

 

This opportunity is closed to applications.