We welcome applications from substantive Detective Sergeants or Detective Constables seeking promotion, for a Detective Sergeant on our South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) Sensitive Intelligence Unit (SIU).

The SIU is a fascinating and exciting place to work. The department is a unique function within South East Policing. The department supports operations in the highest harm and threat areas, exploiting and enhancing intelligence to problem solve and maximise enforcement opportunities. Identifying risks and threats to people is also a key part of the role.

We have three vacancies available, as follows:

Detective Sergeant - Sensitive Intelligence Unit (SIU) - Job Reference: 18477

The SIU manages intelligence from the interception of communications against tasked operations for South East Policing. This is an exciting and unique role where you will gain first-hand knowledge of Serious and Organised Crime and lead intelligence collection against our highest priorities. The work conducted by the SIU delivers significant operational results day in day out.

Operational work includes supporting murders, kidnaps, Firearm threats, Organised Immigration Crime and drug supply networks. As a result, the SIU can often be an exhilarating and fast moving working environment. We work with innovative technology and constantly evolve to keep up with the ever-growing complexity and sophistication of organised crime.  

SIU staff are integral to leading the fight against Serious and Organised Crime. You will work to exploit all relevant information from the interception of communications in order to produce actionable and timely intelligence so that SEROCU can continue to disrupt organised criminals who pose the highest risk to the UK.

Whether it is identifying and disseminating intelligence around firearms, cash or a drugs handover, an organised immigration crime attempt, or an opportunity to identify a person of interest, the input of SIU staff ensures that when the operational teams deploy they achieve the greatest impact and value to an investigation.

You can expect a varied and fulfilling career within this business area, with two days never being quite the same. Your work will be often be crucial in obtaining impressive results that make the headlines and your role will be integral in the disruption of organised crime in the South East. 

Detective Sergeant – Sensitive Intelligence Unit (SIU) Gateway - Job Reference: 18478

The role is as a Sensitive Intelligence Advisor for the Gateway team, casting a critical eye on operational work and assessing who is best placed to advise and assist with SEROCU business. You will be part of a small, but motivated team based within the Sensitive Intelligence Unit.

The Gateway was established in 2019 to manage all internal and external tasks for the commission of SEROCU capabilities. No two days are the same, as the SIA will be involved across a huge variety of work. This is an incredible development opportunity, due to the level of operational and strategic exposure the role provides. 

The role requires good communication and negotiation skills. The SIA engage daily across the South East with Law Enforcement partners, often managing upwards with senior leaders. The SIA will attend Force and Regional Intel meetings, ensuring they are across all SOC operations, providing advice and connecting SOC activity. Currently the vacancy does not carry line management responsibility but likely will in the future.

A credible working knowledge of covert policing is essential due to the advisory nature of the role. We run a significant CPD plan for the SIA’s, ensuring they have a thorough understanding of the capabilities available across law enforcement and in particular within SEROCU and the NCA. This provides an excellent development opportunity to those who have not worked in this area of business previously.

Many meetings are currently held on MST, however there will be a requirement to attend some meetings in person. In addition, the CPD plan will require the candidate to visit other SEROCU capabilities to understand their area of business. This role can be effectively undertaken in a highly flexible manner, meaning working from home and your nearest SERCOU hub is encouraged. Therefore it really does afford a good work-life balance.

Detective Sergeant – Sensitive Intelligence Unit (SIU) Intelligence Development - Job Reference: 18479

The Intelligence Development team’s primary focus is to develop intelligence operations, proactively targeting high risk/threat OCGs. Intelligence officers will often take the operation cradle to grave, from research and development, through to proactive and enforcement phases. The role is diverse and hugely satisfying, with officers gaining experience in many aspects of proactive policing.

This is a varied role, with a good proportion of your day out in the field gathering intelligence and hands-on operational work. Successful candidates will be making professional applications for specialist tactics and liaising with law enforcement partners to achieve maximum disruptions across agencies.

The team work in a highly flexible manner, meaning working from home and your nearest SERCOU hub is encouraged. As the department cover the whole of the South East and the subjects and crime types greatly vary, we ask our officers to be operationally flexible. This can mean slight changes to shifts at times depending on the need.

This is an exciting and unique role where you will gain first-hand knowledge of Serious and Organised Crime and lead intelligence operations against our highest priorities. The work conducted by the SIU delivers significant operational results day in day out.

Operational work includes targeting crime types such as Firearm threats, Organised Immigration Crime and drug supply networks. As a result, the SIU can often be an exhilarating and fast moving working environment. We work with innovative technology and constantly evolve to keep up with the ever-growing complexity and sophistication of organised crime.  

You can expect a varied and fulfilling career within this business area, with two days never being quite the same. Your work will be often be crucial in obtaining impressive results that make the headlines and your role will be integral in the disruption of organised crime in the South East.

Due to the nature of these roles, the successful candidates will require a full UK driving licence.

Security is of paramount importance to us due to the nature of the role. You need to be a British National and resided in the UK for the past five years for Security Clearance (SC) and ten years for Developed Vetting (DV)  You will be required to successfully pass and maintain the relevant security clearance in order to perform the role.

You can find more information about security vetting here.

Further Information

At 1000 on Monday 29th November you can attend a virtual information briefing where you can hear more about the roles and have the opportunity to ask questions. 

If you would like to attend please contact RecruitmentSE@ThamesValley.police.uk quoting reference DS SIU Vacancies to register your attendance.

How to Apply

To apply, click on the “Apply” button below and submit your application before the closing date of 23:55hrs on Wednesday 8th December 2021.

Substantive Officers and those Officers applying for Promotion: If you wish to apply you need to have support from your Head of Command / Department. Hampshire officers need to complete an AD277b alongside their application.

Kent Officers will need to inform HR Resource Planning at the earliest opportunity of intention to apply.   Every Officer application form must be signed by the Chief Supt or police staff equivalent and sent to HR Resource Planning no later than 5 working days prior to closing date unless exceptional circumstances apply. This is required so that Chief Officer approval can be obtained for the application to progress, which will be managed by HR Resource Planning.  These steps must be completed prior to submission application.  If your application for an opportunity is not approved prior to submission to the recruiting organisation you may not be supported for release to the role, should you be successful.

Substantive officers will be shortlisted against the Essential Criteria and should submit an online application form.  You will be required to upload your latest PDR (or if no PDR, a recent copy of your CPD record/Focus Feedback meeting) and a copy of your Training Record. You will be also required to upload the Recommendation for Appointment Form (enclosed with the Job Advert) in the ‘Line Managers Approval Form’. Thames Valley Police (TVP) officers who have already passed the TVP Promotion, can apply as a substantive (above application requirements). 

In addition to this information, officers applying on promotion should also submit a ‘Why Me, Why Now’ letter which outlines your motivation and suitability for the role at this time. Your evidence should also demonstrate the relevant behaviours, skills, knowledge and experience in relation to your capability at this rank in accordance with the core competencies (CVF) Step up Criteria. The letter must be no more than two (2) sides of A4. The margins must not be modified from 2.54cm. All evidence outside the margins should be removed. You will also be required to upload your latest PDR (or if no PDR, a recent CPD record//Focus Feedback meeting) and the Police Officer Promotion Reference Form.

At SEROCU we are committed to reflecting the communities we serve.  We encourage applications from our under represented communities including all ethnic or religious backgrounds, LGBTQ+, women and those with disabilities.

Our people say that benefits include a good work/life balance, a supportive and welcoming place to work and great opportunities to further develop your own capabilities.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact RecruitmentSE@thamesvalley.police.uk.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy if we receive a high volume of applications. Should you wish to apply for this post, we advise you to complete and submit your application form as soon as possible.

Please use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge when completing your application, wherever possible, as this will enhance performance.