Investigations Command is the core crime fighting capability of the NCA. We take an intelligence-led approach and concentrate on tackling the criminals and risks to the public which are beyond the capability or capacity of other law enforcement bodies. Our work is largely focused on investigating Organised Immigration Crime, Human Trafficking, Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Economic Crime, Firearms, Drugs, Kidnap and Extortion and Money Laundering. The Investigations Command provides a flexible, shared operational capability, designed to maximise the impact of the UK's collective resources against serious and organised crime. Our teams respond to a broad range of threats, many of which also remain a responsibility for police forces and other agencies as well as private industry.
Information about the Command
Investigations Command is the core crime fighting capability of the NCA. We take an intelligence-led approach and concentrate on tackling the criminals and risks to the public which are beyond the capability or capacity of other law enforcement bodies. Our work is largely focused on investigating Organised Immigration Crime, Human Trafficking, Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Economic Crime, Firearms, Drugs, Kidnap and Extortion and Money Laundering. The Investigations Command provides a flexible, shared operational capability, designed to maximise the impact of the UK’s collective resources against serious and organised crime. Our teams respond to a broad range of threats, many of which also remain a responsibility for police forces and other agencies as well as private industry.
Information about the Business Area
This campaign is searching for candidates to fill roles in multiple business areas within the Investigations Command | Full time, Job share
At the National Crime Agency (NCA), our Investigations Directorate is at the heart of our mission to protect the public. We lead the charge against the most dangerous and complex criminal threats facing the UK today—those that go beyond the reach of traditional law enforcement.
We are a world-class investigative force, powered by highly skilled and motivated officers who are driven by purpose and committed to making a difference. Our work is intelligence-led, nationally coordinated, and focused on the criminals and networks that pose the greatest risk to our communities.
The Investigations Directorate provides a flexible, shared operational capability, designed to maximise the impact of the UK’s collective resources against serious and organised crime, and in specialist support of major crime. Our teams respond to a broad range of threats, many of which also remain a responsibility for the police forces and other agencies as well as private industry.
Our teams lead investigations across the Serious and Organised Crime landscape for example; Organised Immigration Crime, Illicit Finance, Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking, Child Sexual Abuse, Internal Professional Standards, Economic Crime, Firearms, Drugs including County Lines, Anti-Kidnap and Extortion, Professional Enablers, Money Laundering and International Bribery and Corruption.
The teams provide a national service of specialist investigative skills and expertise to support major crime investigations conducted by police forces, such as abduction, serial sexual crime and no body murder.
Every day will be different, using innovative approaches and ground breaking techniques you will be making decisions which help to disrupt and bring to justice criminals who present the highest threat to the UK. You may be expected to work directly or indirectly in tackling Child Sexual Abuse (CSA).
Investigations
Investigating serious criminality; collecting and developing intelligence and evidence to build and contribute to case file preparations to prosecute offenders. NCA Investigative teams respond to a broad range of threats including Organised Immigration Crime, Cyber Dependant Crime, Fraud, Human Trafficking, Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Firearms and Drugs, as well as having internal Professional Standards teams. Investigations are undertaken in a varied and dynamic environment, identifying intelligence and evidential opportunities in support of investigation leads.
Team working and collaboration
You will be working closely with other NCA departments and partner agencies to identify threats from criminality and work in a challenging environment to pursue offenders.
Decision making
Using innovative approaches and ground breaking techniques you will be making decisions which help disrupt and bring to justice criminals who present the highest threat to the UK.
Intelligence and evidence identification
Investigations are undertaken in a varied and dynamic environment with critical roles in identifying intelligence and evidential opportunities in support of Investigation leads. These are challenging roles requiring a flexible approach to working long and varied hours, often at short notice, operating from locations within England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Officer Safety Training
It is an essential requirement for successful candidates to pass a five day Officer Safety Training course (OST). Applicants are urged to give consideration to whether this is achievable prior to applying. The OST combines cognitive input, armed and unarmed defence theory and practical techniques and, as such, requires a level of physical exertion due to the nature and repetition of the drills. The practical techniques include use of body weapons, movement and positioning, strikes (armed/unarmed) blocks, restraint and control. We will expect officers attending the course to have a standard of physical fitness. Progressive full body warm-ups are conducted each day to minimize risk of injury to the officer. It is expected that the officer is capable of a ground descent and ascent, unaided and within a reasonable timeframe. This is important both individually and in team tactics. Candidates must pass the OST during the first 6 months of starting in the Investigator role. Failure to do so would mean you would not be able to continue in the operational Investigator role and your employment with the NCA will end. Barring any exceptional circumstances the NCA would not seek to find you an alternative role within the agency. An officer who passes the OST will still be required to successfully pass their 12 month probation period to ensure continued employment with the NCA.
You could be deployed to work on any type of investigation, including, but not limited to Child Sexual Abuse. By applying for this role you are confirming that you are willing to undertake CSA roles. The NCA will provide access to Occupational Health Service and those in CSA roles will be required to undergo psychological assessment prior to joining the agency. You will need to give this consideration prior to applying for this role.
Person Specification
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Interviewing
Knowledge or experience of interviewing witnesses and suspects (custody time limits/procedures, extensions, authorisations and bail
Communication
Good communication skills with the ability to listen, empathise, provide support and adapt language, form and message to meet the needs of different people and audiences.
Investigations techniques
Experience and knowledge in the use of investigations techniques to meet operational outcomes.
Knowledge of conducting arrests
Knowledge of arrest procedures.
Seizure of exhibits
Experience and knowledge around seizure of exhibits, continuity of evidence, and seize/sift legislation, including experience in disclosure, and scheduling of material, and knowledge of CPIA legislation.
Completing case files
Experienced and competent in completing case files and liaising with prosecuting agencies or authorities.
On-call working
The post holder may be required to be part of an on-call 24/7 rota which will vary from each business area.
Please note the following:
This will consist of the following:
And one of the below:
OR
Candidates who are applying with an equivalent qualification will be required to complete a 1250 statement of suitability demonstrating your suitability for the role in line with the Skills, Knowledge and Experience detailed within the person specification
If you have a current/active Professionalising Investigation Programme minimum Level 1 (PIP1) qualification with a certificate or evidence you are able to progress to interview.
Officers joining the NCA on a PIP-equivalent basis must attain the required PIP accreditation, and this will include taking all relevant exams and could include the requirement to complete an assessed portfolio of workplace-based evidence.
Full guidance and information can be found in the NCA applicant guidance attached to the advert.
To find out more about the role and the application process we will be holding virtual open event via MS Teams on Wednesday 7th January 1800-1900
This event is by invitation only.
To register, please click on the following link
Virtual Event – G5 Experienced Investigator
You will be asked for your name and email address.
Registration will close on Tuesday 6th January at 1200
You will not be able to register after this date and time.
Salary
This role attracts a SPOT Rate salary. SPOT Rate offers a progressive increase in pay to reflect the skills and experience of the officer.
All NCA employees are members of the UK Civil Service and eligible for the Civil Service pension scheme, alongside your salary the NCA contributes £11,782. Further information on the benefits of the scheme is available on the Civil Service Pension Website.
New entrants to the NCA receive 26 days annual leave, rising to 31 on completion of 5 years continuous service, plus 8 bank holidays.
If qualifying criteria is met new joiners from UK Police Forces or the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) will have service with those employers taken into account for continuous service purposes for annual leave entitlement only, this will be up to a maximum of 31 days leave (including 1 privilege day).
Other benefits include:
Further information is available on the NCA Website.
Statement of Suitability
Please provide a 1250 word personal statement demonstrating how you meet the criteria below:
Candidates who are applying with an equivalent qualification please demonstrate your suitability for the role in line with the Skills, Knowledge and Experience detailed within the person specification
If you have a current/active Professionalising Investigation Programme Minimum Level 1 (PIP1) qualification with a certificate or evidence, you will be able to progress to interview – you do not need to complete this part – please enter N/A in the box provided.
You will receive an acknowledgement once your application is submitted.
We aim to have sift completed and scores released within 10 working days of the closing date of the advert. For high volume campaigns this timeframe may be extended.
Scores will be provided but further feedback will not be available at this stage.
The format of this assessment will be Interview which will be tested on the criteria listed in the Success Profiles at Assessment section.
Strengths are tested at interview stage – the strengths tested are not shared before the interview.
In the event of a tie at the assessment stage, available roles will be offered in merit order using the following order:
The National Crime Agency is a law enforcement agency and as such we are part of the Criminal Justice System. Therefore if you are going into an operational role we need to be aware if any of our officers have, either before they join us or afterwards, any of the following:
Any criminal conviction (including Court Martial), or caution or fixed penalty notice for disorder or theft;
Any adverse judicial findings;
Any charges or summonses where the proceedings are not complete;
Any misconduct or gross misconduct findings or where proceedings are not complete.
You will be asked to complete a declaration covering the above if offered a role with the NCA.
Each case will be considered on its merits and a positive declaration does not automatically mean that your application will not be progressed. However, should you fail to disclose a relevant matter then your application or employment will be adversely affected. If in doubt, please declare it at this stage.
Where multiple locations are advertised, appointments will be made in merit order per location.
Indicate your preferences clearly; you may be posted to any preferred location. If you decline a post at a location you selected, another offer may not be made.
Only advertised locations are available, any notes added to the application will not be considered.
If you meet the criteria for a lower grade, you may be offered that role if not appointable at the advertised grade.
Conversely, if found appointable at a higher grade but no posts are available, you may be offered a lower-grade role.
All offers are made based on merit.
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and an inclusive, equal opportunities employer.
We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone can be their authentic self. If you’re neurodiverse, have a disability, or live with a long-term health condition, we encourage you to let us know about any reasonable adjustments you may need during the recruitment process.
If you experience accessibility issues with the advert or require reasonable adjustments, please contact our Recruitment Team at Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk before the advert closing date.
Please ensure you complete the ‘Equal opportunities’ and ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ sections in the application form to inform us on what support you may need in the recruitment process.
For more on our Disability Confident commitment, visit Disability Confident Scheme | Civil Service Careers.
Visit NCA Benefits and Support for more details.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
In order to monitor the effectiveness of the National Crime Agency’s Diversity & Inclusion strategy, we require certain personal details about you on submission of your application for statistical and monitoring purposes only. Please note that this will be treated in confidence and will not impact your application.
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit on merit through fair and open competition, in line with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email: Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk (quoting the vacancy reference).
If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.
Name : Central Recruitment Team
Email : Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk