Senior Investigator PIP3

The Senior Investigator leads as the Senior Investigative Officer (SIO) on specified crime investigations. They are accountable to chief officers for the conduct of the investigation.

They manage the investigative response, and all resources associated with the investigation. They develop and implement strategies, procedures and systems that underpin the investigation and ensure the management and assessment of threat, risk and harm.

• Develop and implement short, medium and long-term objectives within each investigation as part of the overall investigative strategy and engage with other force departments, units and agencies to enable a collaborative approach to managing investigative strategies and evidence gathering and build community confidence.
• Supervise and evaluate the performance and conduct of investigations for reactive, proactive, and crimes in action to ensure the investigation is carried out thoroughly and expeditiously in accordance with investigation policy, ethics and relevant legislation, and best practice.
• Manage budgets and resources and take corrective action where required to ensure investigations are completed in a cost-effective manner.
• Lead, inspire, and develop a team of investigators, providing coaching, support, and feedback where required to deliver team objectives and ensure the welfare of staff.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships and partnerships and community relations by providing a service that is responsive to the needs of all communities in accordance with partnership agreements.
• Develop plans for operations and coordinate activities and initiatives, including management of covert assets, also implementing change plans where required, to contribute to reducing, detecting and preventing major and serious crime.
• Develop and implement plans for witnesses and victims to ensure they are offered support and care during the investigative process, adhering to applicable guidance and legislation.
• Undertake comprehensive risk assessments for planned operational events to ensure adequate safety procedures are in place and that an appropriate contingency plan has been developed.
• Enable information and evidence sharing with due consideration to the need for information security to ensure the secure handling and dissemination of intelligence to progress the investigation.
• Supervise the secure handling and dissemination of intelligence to enable information and evidence sharing with due consideration to the need for information security.
• Conduct intelligence-led briefing, tasking and debriefing, ensuring that intelligence is used ethically and is appropriate to the duties being performed and in accordance with Force policy to support the achievement of community safety and crime reduction objectives.
• Support the briefing of and liaison with the media when necessary, acting in accordance with media policy guidelines, to keep the public informed of developments in a particular investigation and as an investigative strategy for appeals.

Prior education and experience:

• Significant experience in conducting serious and complex investigations as Investigative Manager.

• Successful completion of the Management of Serious and Complex Investigations Development Programme (MSCIDP).

• Successfully complete the SIO Development Programme core and the elective specialist modules and portfolio.

• Awareness of HOLMES or Major Incident room standardised administrative processes for effective case management.

• Experience or understanding of managing covert operations, including evidence of risk management and the deployment of assets, such as, conventional surveillance, directed surveillance and lawful intercept.

• Completed the Management of Major Counter Terrorism Investigations. (MMCTI) – PIP3 counter terrorism SIOs only.

• Completed the Kidnap and Extortion course (PIP3 K&E SIO’s only)

• Knowledge of investigations of serious organised crime such as; OCG target operations, counter terrorism or corruption.

• Experience of making challenging decisions using appropriate decision making models.

• Knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation, policies, procedures and the Code of Ethics, criminal and common law.

• Experience of managing parallel proceedings.

• Knowledge and understanding of College of Policing Guidance.

Skills:

• Able to set out logical arguments clearly, adapting language, form and message to meet the needs of multiple audiences and stakeholders.

• Able to use organisational financial systems appropriately and manage budgets and resources effectively.

• Able to identify cause and effect and develop a course of action designed to target root causes and mitigate risks.

• Able to develop and motivate a team and create strong engagement of individuals with their personal and team objectives and with Force values, behaviours and strategic priorities.

• Able to plan ahead; to allocate work appropriately within the team and to identify and mitigate risks to delivery.

• Able to identify key stakeholders, understand potential roles and to take appropriate steps to understand their needs and concerns.

• Ensure a record of recent experience of conducting different types of serious and complex investigations effectively, e.g. homicide, CSE/A, complex public protection, human trafficking, Modern Slavery or other serious offences, is maintained and evidences the knowledge and skills that you have gained as part of maintaining PIP Level 3 accreditation.

• Continually seek to maintain and enhance the knowledge and skills of both the team and individuals to ensure competence in role. This should include identifying individual needs and opportunities for development and using a variety of activities improve performance, including the promotion of CPD activities, where necessary.

• Offer your skills, knowledge and expertise as a ‘critical friend’ to SIOs leading on different investigations, where relevant.

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

• 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 and work to develop networking skills.

• Ensure representation at relevant partnership and/or multi-agency meetings where necessary, and contribute where appropriate.

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

• Where appropriate develop relevant knowledge and experience of covert policing tactics and how these can support an investigation.

• Coach and/or mentor less experienced colleagues e.g. PIP2 Investigators and PIP2 Supervisors and deliver training sessions to support learning and development.

• 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 on investigations.

• Keep up-to-date with all technological advances that might facilitate offenders in committing crimes.

• Understand the impact of the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) Learning the Lessons reports relating to investigation, e.g. importance of case file management.

• Familiarise yourself with other relevant IOPC reports, e.g. Police use of force: evidence from complaints, investigations and public perception and relevant HMICFRS (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services) reports e.g. PEEL Assessments.

• Keep up-to-date with guidance on conducting the Performance Development Review (PDR) process and apply this to your work.

• Ensure knowledge of any line-manager responsibilities in relation to Assessment and Recognition of Competence (ARC) procedures and apply to your work.

• Maintain knowledge and skills relating to work-based assessments in order to conduct these when necessary.

PIP Accreditation

• Assessed competence against relevant professional standards for this role is required to achieve PIP 3 accreditation. Successful completion of the SIO programme will result in entry onto the PIP 3 SIO Register.

• 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 guidance.

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