Investigator PIP1

The PIP 1 Investigator gathers and reviews evidence and undertakes investigations relating to volume and priority crime to ascertain whether a person should be charged with an offence or if a person charged with an offence is guilty of that offence.

• Collect and gather material, intelligence and evidence from a range of sources (including volume and priority crime reports, victims, witnesses, suspects and other sources of material) and record and retain it in a format that is evidentially admissible to support the investigative process.
• Identify and plan own investigative actions, taking into account resources, priorities, and proportionality in order to pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry whether they point towards or away from a suspect to achieve investigatory objectives.
• Interview witnesses and suspects, applying appropriate interviewing principles and techniques to gather all required information, intelligence and evidence within the criminal law and the legal framework to help bring offenders to justice.
• Use relevant powers, applying the “arrest necessity” test to consider arresting, apprehending where necessary, issuing special warnings and other options such as ‘Released Under Investigation’.
• Undertake associated search and custody procedures to protect and safeguard the public in accordance with legislation and policy.
• Complete risk assessments and provide appropriate support for victims during an investigation, through the formulation of a victim plan where required, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the victim.
• Complete risk assessments and provide appropriate support for witnesses when planning investigative interviews to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the witnesses.
• Liaise and work with other investigators and managers to establish and use appropriate methods for gathering material and to develop procedures to turn material into intelligence or evidence.
• Carry out analysis, assess evidence, and evaluate material generated by the investigation of volume and priority crimes to identify offenders.
• Ensure all material, including exhibits, are seized, examined and retained in accordance with disclosure and other applicable legislation and policy, where necessary whether they are used or not.
• Respond to safeguarding concerns and manage risk in cases, including but not limited to; child neglect, child abuse, and child sexual abuse, offences against vulnerable adults, domestic abuse and sexual offences to protect the most vulnerable people in society.

• Prepare reports on the outcome of investigations, build and manage case files and conduct disclosure within best practice procedures to ensure there is an accurate audit trail.

Prior education and experience:

• Successful completion of applicable entry training and undertake training to achieve Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP) level 1 accreditation.

• Demonstrable experience of complex information gathering and problem solving.

• A detailed understanding of the criminal justice system.

• Knowledge and understanding of applicable College Guidance

Skills:

• 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/or audiences.

• Skilled in the use of use IT packages, systems and/or databases to fulfil role requirements.

• Able to break down a complex problem into component parts and determine appropriate action in investigations.

• Ability to work effectively in a team to achieve shared objectives, demonstrating awareness of individual differences and providing support and advice as required.

• Able to review own performance objectively and to develop and follow an appropriate improvement plan.

• Able to appropriately prioritise and plan own work.

• Able to proactively develop effective working relationships with colleagues, partners and other stakeholders.

• Able to produce clear and concise reports and other documents within best practice procedures.

• Maintain PIP Level 1 accreditation by recording evidence of recent experience of conducting different types of volume and priority investigations

• Keep up-to-date with new and developing legislation (including current guidance on disclosure) and current national policing priorities e.g. vulnerability, that may impact upon ongoing investigations.

• Keep up-to-date with new approaches to evidence-based policing and apply these to working practices.

• Maintain a working knowledge of how technology might facilitate offenders to commit crimes.

• Maintain a working knowledge of how other government agencies, such as the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC), can assist in the investigation of cases.

• Ensure that case file management follows current best practice.

• Ensure that investigative interviewing techniques are developed and maintained.

• Complete annual and mandatory training on Stop and Search (Warranted officers only).

• Work closely with colleagues in Intelligence, in order to develop procedures to support turning intelligence into evidence.

• Understand and develop knowledge of other roles within policing e.g. work alongside colleagues in a different department to further operational knowledge of one other’s roles.

• Regularly share best practice for investigations with colleagues e.g. contribute to relevant Knowledge Hub communities or deliver informal briefings.

• Attend and participate in both formal and informal learning and development events e.g. peer teaching opportunities, force-led training.

PIP Accreditation

Assessed competence against relevant professional standards for this role is required to achieve PIP 1 accreditation. Maintenance of this accreditation requires the demonstration of continued competence against professional standards as well as evidence of CPD, in line with the College of Policing CPD guidance.

• Strategic Investigator PIP4
• Investigative Manager PIP2
• Investigative Supervisor PIP1 and PIP2
• Investigator PIP2
• Senior Investigator PIP3
• Specialist interviewer- Victims and witnesses
• Specialist interviewer- Suspects
• Interview Advisor
• Head of Crime
• Investigation Support Officer