Technical Surveillance Unit Operative

Job Family Intelligence
Job Sub Family Surveillance
Code INT-SUR-SD-Technical Surveillance Operative v1.0

Role Purpose

This profile has recently been updated to include the CVF 2024 and core skills, and the new version can be found on College Learn by entering the Profile title in the search function. Please note this profile is out of date and is in the process of being reviewed.

The TSU Technical Surveillance Officer provides covert technical surveillance capabilities for serious and organised crime operations.

Key Accountabilities

  • Obtain and secure expert and professional evidence/intelligence from technical surveillance equipment, ensuring all work is performed within the requirements of the legal framework and to ensure evidential robustness.
  • Provide advice on technical solutions to senior investigating officers during the tasking and coordination process, carrying out planning and preparation of techniques and equipment to satisfy the objectives of an agreed investigative strategy.
  • Complete site surveys, feasibility assessments, installation, maintenance and extraction of technical equipment according to tasking requirements and legal frameworks.
  • Develop and maintain partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to provide innovative technical solutions to identified problems.
  • Maintain technical equipment to ensure operational readiness and ensure the safe use, storage, retrieval and disposal of equipment, in accordance with legal frameworks and organisational policy.
  • Conform to national standard operating procedures to protect the security and integrity of operations, the security of techniques and equipment and the safety and security of all personnel connected in any way with the technical solution.
  • Create operational plans and orders to ensure deployments are compliant with legal frameworks.

Behaviours

All roles are expected to know, understand and act within the ethics and values of the Police Service.

The Competency and Values Framework (CVF) has six competencies that are clustered into three groups. Under each competency are three levels that show what behaviours will look like in practice.

It is suggested that this role should be operating or working towards the following levels of the CVF:

Resolute, compassionate and committed

Inclusive, enabling and visionary leadership

Intelligent, creative and informed policing

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Prior Education and Experience:

  • Please refer to the College of Policing Surveillance Authorised Professional Practice Manual (Restricted) for more information.

Skills:

  • Able to set out logical arguments and provide advice clearly, adapting language, form and message to meet the needs of different people / audiences.
  • Skilled in the use of use IT packages, systems and/or databases to fulfil role requirements.
  • Able to identify potential opportunities to enhance efficiency and/or effectiveness within own area of work.
  • Able to interpret and apply guidance to a specific activity.
  • Able to analyse and break down a complex problem into component parts and determine appropriate action.
  • Able to appropriately prioritise and plan own work.
  • Able to proactively develop effective working relationships with colleagues, partners and other stakeholders.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

  • Personal responsibility for CPD.
  • Instruct and support colleagues in the use of an appropriate technical solutions.
  • Research and refresh own subject matter expertise.
  • Maintain currency of College of Policing Guidance, best practice and any local policy applicable to the operational police context and leading and managing teams.
  • Maintain and update key knowledge, understanding and skills relating to legislation policy and practice across all functional policing areas of operational responsibility.
  • Maintain knowledge and understanding of new approaches identified by evidence based policing research and problem solving and team working and synthesise these into working practice.
  • Maintain a working knowledge and understanding of new and evolving crime threats and priorities; and current best practice to tackle these in order to enable a pro-active and preventative approach.
  • Complete all annual and mandatory training including for example, fitness tests, personal safety training, first aid, and protecting information.

Professional Registration/Licenses

Not applicable.

Links to other Profiles

Technical Surveillance Unit – Head of Unit

Technical Surveillance Unit – Team Leader

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