**Criminal Investigator
Job summary
The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
Immigration Enforcement is responsible for enforcing the government’s immigration laws, tackling illegal migration, removing foreign national offenders and immigration offenders from the UK. We also aim to disrupt the organised criminal groups that exploit the vulnerable for their personal gain. Learn more on our careers pages.
Our Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) teams are committed to disrupting and dismantling the organised crime groups facilitating immigration abuse; utilising its financial investigations capability to remove the proceeds of crime and strip criminals of their assets. Through working closely with partners in the National Crime Agency (NCA), territorial policing and many other agencies and departments, our CFI Teams take vigorous action against those criminals that seek to benefit from illegal migration.
Are you looking for an exciting new challenge and a way to use your investigation and communications skills and protect the public? Come and join us on the frontline as an Immigration Officer helping us to tackle crime and deliver secure borders.
We employ talented people who challenge and guide each other. In CFI you will work within a highly capable team who will support you to develop your skills, knowledge and experience.
Job description
As a Criminal Investigator, you will carry out investigations into a wide range of immigration-related offences. This can include gathering intelligence and evidence, identifying illicit funds and criminal activity, interviewing individuals, preparing file submissions, working with partner agencies, supporting intelligence-led enforcement operations, and giving evidence in court when required.
Our people need to operate in sometimes difficult and pressurised environments and are required to make well balanced decisions. It can be physically demanding at times, so a good level of fitness and mobility is important to carry out the role effectively.
The role offers the opportunity to develop strong communication, teamwork, professionalism, and decision-making skills while working in fast-paced and dynamic environments.
The position offers comprehensive training and ongoing support, with opportunities to build professional investigative skills and progress through structured learning and development towards College of Policing accredited PIP1 and eventually PIP2 status. It is a varied and rewarding career for individuals looking to use their investigative and communication skills to tackle crime, protect vulnerable people, and contribute to keeping the UK secure.
You may be required to undertake the same or a similar role within a different team or teams (where possible, at your base location or within reasonable travel distance), depending on business priorities. With appropriate training and support, this will provide opportunities to broaden both your experience and skill set.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be responsible for (but not limited to):
- Planning and conducting investigations to identify, apprehend and prosecute suspects, or take other appropriate action.
- Collecting material from various sources, ensuring it is recorded, stored and retained to be legally admissible.
- Providing support, maintaining contact and completing risk assessments to ensure safety and welfare
- Conducting investigative interviews with suspects and witnesses to gather evidence and intelligence.
- Identifying and managing operational threats, assessing risks in real time.
- Maintaining high ethical standards, acting with integrity, and ensuring compliance with legislation like the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPIA).
- Working with internal and external partners to build cases, develop investigative strategies, and communicate effectively with stakeholders and the public.
- Analysing information to make fair, timely decisions on cases, preparing reports for senior managers, managing relationships through written and face-to-face communication, ensuring work meets standards and targets, handling high-volume complex casework, and reflecting on performance while keeping updated with legislation, technology and research ongoing.
Working Pattern
Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis.
Successful candidates will need to be able to attend for all shifts including early starts, late night finishes, and overnight shifts. These shifts may be outside of public transport operating hours.
You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of submitting your application. You will be required to work between 22.00 and 06.00, so this is a legal requirement. For more information visit: Night working hours: Hours and limits - GOV.UK
Training
You will receive full training and support to do the job. Training takes place initially in the classroom and then continues on the job with a mentor who supports you until you are fully confident in the role. Even then you are never alone; you work as part of a team where there is always someone around for advice and support. Further information on what the training involves can be found on our website.
Eventbrite
If you want to learn more about these roles, you can join one of our free online live events, during which you will hear from staff about what the job is like, what opportunities and career prospects you may have, and why the job matters. We will also talk about the recruitment and security vetting processes, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions from our friendly and experienced team members.
1PM Thursday 11th June 2026 -
6PM Wednesday 17th June 2026 -
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, engaging a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
- Ability to gather, analyse and interpret information to support evidence-based decision-making and proportionate risk assessment
- Ability to remain resilient and adaptable, maintaining performance and professionalism in high-pressure or rapidly changing situations
- Strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and thoroughness when handling information and investigative material
- Ability to work with integrity, demonstrating professionalism and adherence to legislation, policy and procedures
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain effective case progression
- Experience of working collaboratively with others to achieve shared outcomes or investigative objectives
- Commitment to continuous professional development, maintaining awareness of relevant legislation, processes and best practice
Desirable Criteria
- An all-round awareness of the specialist functions associated with complex crime investigation such as use of Proceeds of Crime Application (POCA), surveillance, exploitation of digital devices, operational planning and public
Licences
Due to the nature of the work and/or the geographical area, driving is a key requirement for this role. Applicants must have a full valid UK manual/automatic driving licence at the time of application. You will be required to present your full valid driving licence at the interview.Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
- 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
- Plus allowance of approximately 30%, which equates to an additional £9633 per annum based on salary minimum.
- Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
See more of our benefits on our careers website.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.
As part of the application process, you will first be asked to confirm your eligibility by providing some basic personal information.
After submission of this first stage, you will be invited to complete the following Civil ServiceJudgement Test.
1. Online Test - by 25th June 2026
If you successfully pass the Civil Service Judgement Test, you will be invited to complete the full application form. Please complete the online test as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). If you fail to complete the online test or full application before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.
Guidance for the Civil Service test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The online tests are accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website.
You cannot complete the tests on a mobile phone or tablet.
Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance on 7th June 2026 between 4pm and 7pm and on 21st June 2026 12pm until 1pm. You will be unable to access tests during this period.
If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.
Following successful completion of your test, you will then be asked to complete the full application form.
2. Application – by 25th June 2026
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words)
- Lead Behaviour 'Making Effective Decisions' (maximum of 250 words per behaviour)
The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.
For guidance and information on how to construct your application (Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
3. Sift – from 29th June 2026
The sift will be held on the Personal Statement and the Lead Behaviour 'Making Effective Decisions'.
Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted (Lead Behaviour 'Making Effective Decisions'). Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.
4. Interview – 20th July 2026
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and Strength based questions. All Behaviours listed in the selection process will be scored at the interview.
The interviews will take place face to face in person at the locations listed below:
Basingstoke - Priestley House, Belfast - Drumkeen House, Cardiff - General Buildings, Castle Donnington - Pembroke House, Croydon - 2 Ruskin Square, Durham - Southfield House, Glasgow - Festival Court, Heathrow - Custom House, Leeds - Waterside Court, Liverpool - The Capital, London - Eaton House/Lower Thames Street, Salford - Soapworks, Sheffield - Vulcan House, Stansted - Enterprise House.
Travel expenses will not be reimbursed.
For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.
Problems during the application process
If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.
Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.
Location Preferences
You can select up to threelocations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website: https://careers.homeoffice.gov.uk/reserve-lists
Reserve lists will be held for each location and profession. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location and profession.
Breaking Tied Scores
The behaviours, experience and strengths have been ranked in order of importance to enable us to differentiate between candidates with tied interview scores.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is part of the UK. As stated in the Belfast Agreement, also known as the Good Friday Agreement, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland recognise the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both Governments and would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland.
Appearance
This is a uniformed post and as such requires the highest standards. Further information on this and policies regarding tattoos can be found on our website.
Standards
All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.
Integrity Check
As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, you will also be subject to an additional Integrity Check, as part of the pre-employment process, to determine your suitability to work for Border Force or Immigration Enforcement. For further information on what this involves, please visit our website.
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
- Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Criminal Record Check
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service, Disclosure Scotland or Access NI on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk.
For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre
- Email : HORCCampaignTeamIE@homeoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
Further information
If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.Attachments
Candidate_Information_v17_April_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 207kB)2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)Salary range
- £32,110 - £37,193 per year