Senior Officer - Anti Kidnap and Extortion

Job summary

Investigations is the core crime fighting capability of the NCA, taking an intelligence-led approach on tackling the criminals and risks to the public which are beyond the capability or capacity of other law
enforcement bodies.

The Investigations Directorate provides a flexible, operational capability, designed to maximise the impact of the UK's collective resources against serious and organised crime, and in specialist support of major crime.

Our teams respond to a broad range of threats, some of which also remain a responsibility for police forces and other agencies as well as private industry.

Our teams lead investigations across the Serious and Organised Crime landscape, Organised Immigration Crime, Illicit Finance, Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking, Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, internal Professional Standards, Economic Crime, Firearms, Drugs including County Lines, Anti-Kidnap and Extortion, Professional enablers and Money Laundering.

The teams provide a national service of specialist investigative skills and expertise to support major crime investigations conducted by police forces, such as abduction, serial sexual crime and no body murder.

Successful candidates will be required to complete Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST).

It is an essential requirement for successful candidates to pass an eight-day Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST). Applicants are urged to consider whether this is achievable prior to applying. 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. The practical techniques include use of body weapons, movement and positioning, strikes (armed/unarmed) blocks, restraint and control. We will expect officers attending the course to have a standard of physical fitness. Progressive full body warm-ups are conducted each day to minimise risk of injury to the officer. It is expected that the officer is capable of a ground descent and ascent, unaided and within a reasonable timeframe. This is important both individually and in team tactics. Candidates must pass the PPST during the first 6 months of starting in the Investigator role. Failure to do so would mean you would not be able to continue in the operational Investigator role and your employment with the NCA will end. Barring any exceptional circumstances, the NCA would not find you an alternative role within the Agency. An officer who passes the PPST will still be required to successfully pass their 12-month probation period to ensure continued employment with the NCA.

Virtual Open Evening Event

To find out more about the role and the application process we will be holding a virtual opening evening via MS Teams on Tuesday 29th September 2026 @ 6.00pm.

This event is by invitation only.

To register, please click on the following link

NCA Virtual Recruitment Event - Senior Officer - Anti Kidnap and Extortion, 29/9/2026 @ 6pm – Fill out form

You will be asked for your name and email address. Please check your answer carefully to ensure you receive your invite.

Registration will close on Monday 28th September 2026 at 12.00pm. You will not be able to register after this date and time.

Invites will be sent on the day of the event. If you do not see the invite, please check your spam filter just in case.

Job description

AKEU provides strategic and tactical advice to police forces, law enforcement, government agencies and commercial enterprises across the world in live kidnap matters. We are responsible for deploying incremental, operational support and coordinating NCA assets to aid the investigation of crimes in action.

We are based across the UK and available to provide fast time tactical advice. We also provide training in specialist areas to UK and overseas partners. We liaise with a network of officers across the globe who are also specialists in countering the threat from kidnap and extortion.

All crime-in-action, live offences of kidnap, product contamination and blackmail are reported to us.

We provide data to National Police Chief Council (NPCC), His Majesty's Government (HMG) and NCA colleagues to inform the threat picture in the UK and impact on the UK around kidnap, extortion and product contamination.

Our role is to contribute to the service delivery of the Agency’s Anti Kidnap and Extortion Unit - enabling the unit to continue to contribute and perform as a centre of national and international best practice and influence in respect of kidnap, product contamination and extortion issues, in live and reactive operations

Duties and Responsibilities

Life Preservation & Public Protection - Safeguard life, prevent serious injury, and mitigate severe economic harm through the provision of expert advice, intervention, and operational support in kidnap, extortion, and related life-threatening incidents.

Operational Leadership - Provide tactical and strategic leadership in the response to national and international crimes in action, leading the UK's operational response and investigation where appropriate.

Specialist Incident Management - Coordinate and manage National Crime Agency resources in support of kidnap and extortion investigations, firearms deployments, and Threats to Life operations, ensuring effective delivery of organisational objectives and statutory responsibilities.

Strategic Advice & Coordination - Deliver timely strategic and tactical advice to UK and international law enforcement, government partners, and relevant agencies to support critical decision-making during live and fast-moving incidents.

Partnership Engagement - Foster effective collaboration with domestic and international law enforcement partners, government bodies, and industry stakeholders to strengthen the response to kidnap, extortion, and other high-risk threats.

Training & Capability Development - Design and deliver training, briefings, and presentations to law enforcement agencies and commercial organisations, promoting a consistent, structured, and effective response to life-threatening situations.

Operational Readiness - Undertake on-call responsibilities as directed by Anti Kidnap and Extortion Unit (AKEU) management, providing specialist support and advice during critical incidents.

Unit Support & Governance - Support the AKEU Manager, contributing to unit priorities, operational planning, performance improvement, and organisational objectives.

Person specification

Specialist Operational Knowledge - Demonstrable knowledge of relevant legislation, policy, and operational tactics relating to kidnap, extortion, threats to life, covert policing, and serious organised crime investigations.

Covert Policing Expertise - Experience of applying covert policing methods and tactics in support of complex investigations and high-risk operational activity.

Communications Data & Surveillance - Sound knowledge of communications data, surveillance techniques, and associated legislation, with the ability to utilise these capabilities to support operational decision-making and investigative outcomes.

Strategic Communication - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and adapt communication styles to a range of audiences, including senior leaders, operational partners, and external stakeholders.

Partnership Working - Proven ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external partners, fostering collaboration to achieve operational objectives.

Information Technology - Competent user of IT systems and applications, with the ability to effectively manage, analyse, and present information in support of operational activity.

On-call working

At present the team operates a standard working pattern of 37 hours per week (plus a 30 minute unpaid break per shift), Monday to Friday 8am - 4pm. There is also a requirement for on call working - 1 weekend in an 8 week period.

Licences

Full DVLA Driving Licence (includes Full EU Licences).

Qualifications

Current/active Professionalising Investigation Programme Level 2 (PIP2) qualification with a certificate or evidence. Your PIP accreditation must be current/active within the last 3 years.

OR

An equivalent accreditation from a recognised government body with evidence.
Officers joining the NCA on a PIP-equivalent basis must attain the required PIP accreditation in post, this will include taking all relevant exams and could include the requirement to complete an assessed portfolio of workplace-based evidence.
Any applications from candidates not meeting this eligibility criteria will not progress

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Good knowledge of the tactics techniques and investigative opportunities to effectively investigate serious and organised crime.
• Good understanding of criminal law and UK legislation affecting agency activity including Regulation Investigative Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA).
• Knowledge of the use of communications data, intelligence development and risk management.
• Experience of taking steps to improve culture on an individual and team basis.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,049, National Crime Agency contributes £13,630 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Your application will be assessed against the following:

Technical - this will be assessed by 250 word examples on:

• Good knowledge of the tactics techniques and investigative opportunities to effectively investigate serious and organised crime.

• Good understanding of criminal law and UK legislation affecting agency activity including Regulation Investigative Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA).

• Knowledge of the use of communications data, intelligence development and risk management.

Experience - This will be assessed:

CV

Please include your full career history, training, qualifications, key responsibilities, and achievements. Explain any employment gaps in the last two years. Ensure all accreditation dates are accurate.

Details of what is expected within your CV are as follows: Please submit a CV (maximum three pages) detailing your relevant skills, knowledge, experience, and achievements. Please demonstrate PIP2-equivalent investigative experience, including complex case management, evidence gathering and assessment, interviewing, case file preparation, and stakeholder engagement.

A panel will assess how well your application demonstrates the requirements outlined above.

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.

- Good knowledge of the tactics techniques and investigative opportunities to effectively investigate serious and organised crime. .

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.

Success Profiles at Assessment

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions

• Communicating and Influencing

Technical

• Good knowledge of the tactics techniques and investigative opportunities to effectively investigate serious and organised crime.

• Good understanding of criminal law and UK legislation affecting agency activity including Regulation Investigative Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA).

• Knowledge of the use of communications data, intelligence development and risk management.

• Experience of taking steps to improve culture on an individual and team basis.

Assessment Outcome

Outcomes will be communicated via the NCA recruitment portal.
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:

1. Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)
2. If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)
3. If still tied, application sift scores will be used

Feedback is provided only to those who attend an assessment.

You will be subject to vetting and pre-employment checks before appointment.

Once the vacancy closes, the advert will no longer be accessible. Please save a copy for your records.

We encourage all candidates to visit the NCA Careers Page for more information.

Vetting requirements - SC Enhanced

Prior to commencing the role, you will need to successfully complete SC Enhanced clearance and then achieve DV Enhanced clearance within the first 12 months in post.

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.

The requirement for DV Enhanced clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 7 of the last 10 years.

Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

If the increased clearance cannot be obtained you will be moved to a role appropriate to your clearance level achieved on entry.

For further information on National Security Vetting checks please visit the following page Demystifying Vetting

Individuals will be required to undertake and pass a substance misuse test as part of pre-employment checks.

Full advert details for this vacancy can found on the advert on the NCA Recruitment Portal. Please follow the link to apply at advertisers' site.

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

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 : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
• Telephone : 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.

Attachments

Senior Officer - Anti Kidnap and Extortion - Application Guidance and Process v2 Opens in new window (pdf, 991kB)