Experienced Investigator - National Cyber Crime Unit
Job summary
The successful candidate will participate in operations and investigations, carry out evidence, intelligence gathering and preservation in order to build knowledge of serious and organised crime to disrupt and degrade criminal capability and the use of information communications technology (ICT). Other investigative functions will include Exhibits, Disclosure and Authorities Officer roles.
The successful candidate will ensure the quality secure handling and dissemination of intelligence, maintaining confidentiality, sensitivity and duty of care in line with Agency policy. Complete criminal justice case files. Build good working relationships with both internal and external partners
Job description
The NCCU is the lead UK Law Enforcement agency for tackling the threat from Cyber Crime, working closely with partners across Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs), local Police forces, the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) and overseas liaison services.
The NCCU works especially closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to coordinate national Law Enforcement’s (Team Cyber UK) engagement in managing cyber incidents and countering Cyber Crime threats across Organised Crime Groups, Lone Actors and Hostile State Actors.
Working at a national and international level against the rapidly evolving cyber threat, the NCCU is a busy and interesting place to work with many opportunities to learn new skills. The NCCU prides itself on promoting an innovative culture and developing ground breaking capabilities which can be deployed against a wide range of criminals operating online.
Duties and Responsibilities
Investigations - As an Investigator in the NCA you will be investigating serious criminality; collecting and developing intelligence and evidence to build and contribute to case file preparations to prosecute offenders. Investigations are undertaken in a varied and dynamic environment, identifying intelligence and evidential opportunities in support of investigation leads.
Team working and collaboration - In the National Cyber Crime Unit you will work alongside other NCA departments, and partner organisations to detect criminal threats and operate in a demanding environment in order to disrupt and apprehend 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 -
Successful applicants will be required to attend and pass a five day Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST) course, followed by a one day mandatory annual refresher. The PPST 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.
In addition to PPST successful applicants will also be required to attend a two day operational First Aid course, followed up with annual mandatory First Aid refresher courses.
Due to the nature of Cyber Crime, NCCU investigators may find themselves working across a broad range of threat areas which could include Child Sexual Abuse, Illicit Finance, Economic Crime, Professional Enablers, and Money Laundering. The NCA will provide access to Occupational Health Service for those who come across CSA during their investigations.
Person specification
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Interviewing - Competent and experienced at interviewing witnesses and suspects (custody time limits/procedures, extensions and authorisations), use of bad character evidence 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.
Experience of conducting arrests - Experience of conducting arrests; competent and experienced at interviewing witnesses and suspects (custody time limits/procedures, extensions and authorisations), use of bad character evidence and bail
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.
Powers:
In order for the NCA Designating Officer to delegate powers to an NCA officer under the Crime and Courts Act, the agency requires that any officer that requires powers for their role is now required to pass the NCA Foundation Exams within their probationary period. Upon successful completion of all exams an officer will be designated under section 10 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 as a person having the following powers:
- the powers and privileges of a constable;
- the powers of an officer of Revenue and Customs;
- the powers of an immigration officer; and
- the powers of a general customs official.
Officers joining the agency will be provided with online access revision material and offered classroom based tutorials to support them taking exams.
Those working in Northern Ireland and Scotland are currently required to successfully complete the NCA Foundation Exams as above, Northern or Scottish powers course and the National Investigators Exam (NIE), if not previously passed
PIP Accreditation:
An officer joining the agency on an experienced investigator campaign, that doesn’t have the required PIP accreditation for their role, will be required to complete the PIP accreditation upon joining the agency. This would require the completion of the NCA Foundation exams, and if applicable, passing the National Investigators Exam (NIE), followed by an assessed portfolio of evidence. The requirement of what the portfolio of evidence contains is determined following a professional discussion with an accredited assessor and based on the previous training and relevant recent experience of the candidate.
Individuals who do not currently hold PIP accreditation nor an equivalent recognised accreditation in investigative crime issued by a Government body will not be eligible to apply and are encouraged to look into the NCA's Officer Development Programme (ODP) as an alternative pathway.
On-call working You will be required to be part of an on-call rota. averaging one week in 12. This may be subject to change. Additional remuneration is applicable to spot rate roles Grades 6-4 and non-spot-rate roles Grades 6-3.Qualifications
You must hold one of the followingCurrent/active Professionalising Investigation Programme Level 1 (PIP1) or Level 2 (PIP2) qualification with a certificate or evidence (detailed in the NCA applicant guidance attachment). Your PIP accreditation must be current/active within the last 3 years.
OR
An equivalent accreditation from a recognised government body with evidence (detailed in the NCA applicant guidance attachment).
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.
Officers joining the agency on an experienced investigator campaign, that doesn’t have the required PIP2 accreditation for their role, will be required to complete the PIP2 accreditation upon joining the agency.
Officers joining the agency on an experienced investigator campaign, an officer with PIP2 accreditation will be required to have a professional discussion with an accredited assessor upon joining the agency.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £40,670, National Crime Agency contributes £11,782 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.All NCA employees are members of the UK Civil Service and eligible for the Civil Service pension scheme, alongside your salary the NCA contributes £14308. 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:
- Flexible working, including flexi-time, compressed hours and job sharing (in line with business requirements)
- Family friendly policies, notably above the statutory minimum
- Learning and Development opportunities
- Interest free loans and advances, including season tickets, childcare and rental deposits
- Housing schemes - Key Worker status
- Discounts and Savings with a wide variety of services including Cycle to Work, Smart Tech schemes, dental insurance, gym discounts and savings on everyday spending, available through the Reward Gateway , Edenred and Blue Light Card schemes.
- Staff support groups/networks
- Sports and social activities, including membership to the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC)
Further information is available on the NCA 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 and Experience.How we will assess you
Your application will be assessed against the following:Experience - This will be assessed:Experience Criteria - will be assessed by 500 word examples on:- Experienced in Cyber Crime investigations
- Experience of conducting arrests; competent and experienced at interviewing witnesses and suspects (custody time limits/procedures, extensions and authorisations), use of bad character evidence and bail
- 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
Longlist
In the event of a high number of applications, we may operate a longlist. Applicants will need to meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria.
- Experienced in Cyber Crime investigations .
Candidates who do not meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria will not progress to having their other criteria assessed. Applications must meet the minimum criteria to be progressed to the assessment stage.
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.
For guidance on the application process, visit:NCA Applying and Onboarding
Assessment 1
The format of this assessment will be Interview which will be tested on the criteria listed in the Success Profiles at Assessment section.
If you are successful you will be invited to the second assessment.Assessment 2
The format of this assessment will be Experienced Officer Knowledge Check (EOKC) which will be tested on via the details listed below.
Candidates who pass the interview will then be invited to attend an in-person assessment. This will consist of an Experienced Officer Knowledge check (EOKC).
Full details will be given to the successful candidates.
Please note the knowledge check test will result in a "Pass" or "Fail".
Success Profiles at Assessment
Behaviours- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Experienced in Cyber Crime investigations
- Experience of conducting arrests; competent and experienced at interviewing witnesses and suspects (custody time limits/procedures, extensions and authorisations), use of bad character evidence and bail
- 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
If successful but no role is immediately available, you may be placed on a reserve list for 12 months.
Reserve lists can be used to fill similar role types across the Agency where the assessment criteria is considered a match by the recruitment team and the business area.
In the event of a tie at the assessment stage, available roles will be offered in merit order using the following order:
- Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)
- If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)
- If still tied, application sift scores will be used
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
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 : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
- Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
Further information
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.
Salary range
- £40,670 per year