Inspection Officer – His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire & Rescue Services

Job summary

Location – Summary

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) is a national organisation with a Head Office in Birmingham and regional offices in London, Salford and Leeds. In line with the Places for Growth Programme HMICFRS will relocate more roles based outside London and the Southeast over the next six to seven years.

For administrative purposes, you will be attached to one of our offices (Birmingham, London or Salford).

To note: being attached to the London office does not guarantee a London salary. Should you have any queries in relation to this, please contact the recruitment team: recruitment@hmicfrs.gov.uk

Summary

HMICFRS independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire and rescue services – in the public interest. We promote improvements in policing and fire and rescue services to make everyone safer.

We are independent of the Government, police and fire and rescue services. We ask the questions that we believe the public wish to have answered and produce major reports that shine a light on issues at the very heart of policing and fire and rescue services.

Our reports are widely covered by the media and help inform the public of the performance of their local police forces and fire and rescue services. You can find out more about HMICFRS on our website and see some of our recent reports.

Working at HMICFRS gives you an opportunity to make a real difference to the quality of local police and fire and rescue services and the lives of the public.

HMICFRS is a unique organisation with staff seconded or loaned from across the Civil Service, police forces and fire and rescue services. We set ourselves high standards, taking great pride in the quality of work we achieve and the opportunities we create for our staff.

Find out more

If you would like to talk to someone about this role and what it’s like working for HMICFRS, we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact neil.monk@hmicfrs.gov.uk, who would be happy to answer any questions.

We are holding two dial-in Teams sessions about these roles, where you can hear more about them (including from some of our current inspection officers), and ask questions. These will be on 14 May from 12:00-13.00; and 18th May from 15:00-16:00.

Access the links below to reserve your spot:

14 May from 12:00-13.00: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1988836198608?aff=oddtdtcreator

18th May from 15:00-16:00: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1988839342010?aff=oddtdtcreator

Job description

Inspection Officers play a vital role in assessing how police forces operate, examining their efficiency, effectiveness and legitimacy. The role involves gathering and analysing evidence, identifying good practice and areas for improvement, and contributing to the inspection judgments and reports that help improve policing and public safety.

Some of our Inspection Officers are attached to particular police forces, and so do most of their inspection activity there, mostly on our flagship PEEL inspections: (although they can be deployed in other forces, and in other inspections across HMICFRS). This means they build detailed understanding of policing in these forces.

We are now expanding our cadre of Inspection Officers to include those who work more broadly across forces, in support of the new focus put on police performance through the Government’s programme of police reform. These Inspection Officers are deployed to gather information, follow up on inspection findings, and support inspection teams in all elements of their work as needed across forces (normally within a region).

All Inspection Officers play a key role in assessing force progress against HMICFRS recommendations.

We are recruiting for both types of Inspection Officers and also seeking to build a reserve list.

The minimum working hours are 37 hours per week. Specific hours and working days will be agreed on appointment. These roles are not suitable for part-time working or job sharing.

Inspection officers spend a significant amount of time on inspection activity in police forces. These roles are home-based, but you should therefore anticipate frequent overnight stays away from home.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare and conduct inspection activity in line with HMICFRS inspection methodologies and processes.
• Be deployed across HMICFRS and force areas to support the assessment of police performance
• Support inspections in police forces and other inspected sectors.
• Collect, analyse and assess evidence using a range of methods, including:
  • interviews
  • focus groups
  • reality testing
  • document and data analysis
• Present information clearly and effectively so it is understood by a range of audiences.
• Contribute to the design, delivery and reporting of inspections.
• Represent HMICFRS at meetings with internal and external stakeholders, building effective working relationships.
• Support and, where required, deputise for Force Liaison Leads or Assistant Portfolio Directors (the Grade 7 inspection roles in HMICFRS).
• Work independently while contributing as part of a supportive inspection team.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly.
• Sound understanding of one or more of policing, the criminal justice system, inspection or audit functions.
• Ability to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders across the policing sector.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to make evidence‑based judgments.
• A commitment to working with professionalism, independence and integrity, in line with HMICFRS values.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working in policing.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,200, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services contributes £13,673 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A Civil Service Pension

See civil service pensions website for more information www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk

A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

• Learning and Development tailored to your role

We are committed to investing in our staff and providing all staff with opportunities to maximise their skills and achieve their potential. We offer a range of work-based training, learning and development opportunities including access to coaching and mentoring, and five days volunteering per year.

HMICFRS also has an Inspection Development Programme and linked accreditation process that all inspection staff undertake in our organisation. The scheme is approved by Skills for Justice and is based on you demonstrating competencies against a framework of role-specific tasks. The expectation is that all new inspection staff will complete a portfolio of evidence within agreed timescales (normally 12 months); once this is complete, it will be assessed by a trained assessor.

• An environment with flexible working options

We promote flexible working that balances professional and personal commitments. We support virtual and smart working, making best use of our technology and building collaborative working models to help all staff on office-based contracts to work from home and/or in the office in a ‘hybrid’ way.

• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.

The diversity of our people is a real asset to HMICFRS. We are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities, as they are currently under-represented within this grade level.

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.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• A CV detailing job history/qualifications/skills. (The CV is for information purposes only and will not be marked).
• Personal Statement (maximum 1250 words).
• Evidence of the following behaviours:
  • Making effective decisions
  • Communicating and influencing
  • Working together
  • Delivering at pace

The Personal Statement should 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 (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

An initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement, assessed against the essential criteria listed above. Where we receive a high number of applications, a further sift will be carried out using the lead behaviour, Making Effective Decisions (word limit 250 words).

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview. Questions will be based around behaviours and also ask about your experience.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Sift & Interview Dates

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.

Sift – week commencing 08 June 2026

Interviews by Video link – week commencing 29 June 2026

Reserve list/multiple adverts.

Reserve lists will be held for a for a period of up to 12 months by each location. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location.

Candidates judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised without the need to go through a further selection process, providing the role has the same Success Profiles elements and essential skills. There is no guarantee that further such vacancies will arise.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas.

Please note these posts are being advertised both as permanent, and as secondment opportunities for people currently working in police.

If you are a serving police officer or police staff equivalent and would like to apply on secondment for this vacancy, please apply via vacancy reference 461185.

Starting salary

New entrants into the Civil Service are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Further information

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of acceptable ID documents.

You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up. For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary

Any move to the HMICFRS from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service 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.

Plagiarism

The ideas and experience provided by candidates during the recruitment process must be their own. Where plagiarism has been identified (which could include content generated by Artificial Intelligence), candidate applications may be rejected. Existing Civil Servants found to have plagiarised may be subject to disciplinary action.

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.

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 counter-terrorist 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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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 : Neil Monk
• Email : Recruitment@hmicfrs.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HMICFRSRecruitment@homeoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment
principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
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)