RIPCOM Compliance Unit Manager

This role is within a unit where Surrey Police and Sussex Police work in collaboration, whilst continuing to be two separate legal entities/employers with different terms and conditions.

Both Surrey Police staff and Sussex Police staff are employed in this unit on their own force terms and conditions.

Successful candidates may be appointed on the terms and conditions of employment of either Surrey Police or Sussex Police, depending on organisational requirements. A discussion will be held with the successful candidate to confirm the details of location, salary, allowance and hours.

Division / Department - Specialist Crime
Status - Full Time
Contract Type - Permanent
Grade - Surrey Police Grade H / Sussex Police Grade 11
Salary Grade Range - Surrey Police £31,780 - £37,969 / Sussex Police £33,618 - £37,281

The starting salary for this role will usually be at the bottom of the salary range.

The Role

Be the key to saving lives
Could you be the leader we are looking for? Someone who is ready to combine their knowledge of covert policing tactics and legislation with their experience of leading, managing, coaching and developing a small team. As the senior advisor, you’ll play a critical part in the decision making process that provides a 24 hour spontaneous response to guide and support operational covert policing that protects vulnerable people often in situations where there is a threat to life or of serious harm.

The Role
To be responsible for the management and development of the RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act) Compliance Unit which includes the Central Authorities Bureau (CAB).

To ensure compliance with legislation, guidance and Manuals of standards for covert activity and to maintain an audit trail for scrutiny by the Investigatory Powers Commissioners Office (IPCO) as required by law, including reporting errors and breaches.

To provide expert advice and assistance in all aspects of investigations in respect of surveillance and the acquisition of communications data and to facilitate all relevant legal authorities.

Lead a specialist team providing advice, guidance and quality assuring applications for covert authorities, CHIS applications , OPT intelligence and evidence applications as well and Communications Data applications.

Working in support of the Authorising Officer and Chief Constable as Force and Senior Authorising Officers respectively.

Play a critical part in the decision making process that provides a 24 hour spontaneous response to guide and support operational covert policing that protects vulnerable people often in situations where there is a threat to life or of serious harm.

In this role you’ll work in partnership with your Sussex Police counterpart to continue to embed our culture of professionalism, flexibility and collaboration.

You’ll represent Surrey Police at regional and national conferences and deliver good practice and initiatives as a result. You’ll understand the importance of keeping on top of a rapidly moving communications world and how new technologies may benefit law enforcement. We place the highest importance on quality control that underpins everything we do and the performance and the continuous development of our staff. You’ll be key to coaching the team and managing the provision of training as required.

You will be leading a team that delivers some really important detailed routine computer work where the focus is on keeping our operations lawful. There is plenty of flexibility in how we manage our working day around this so that work-life balance is a true experience. Then there is the side that means you’ll be leading and providing a fast time response (including a 24/7 call response) when you will identify opportunities through technology and covert policing tactics which mean that Surrey Police find vulnerable people whose lives could be under threat. You will be called upon to provide your expertise as senior advisor sometimes for several hours. This is the work that is very rewarding as you will see how your advice and suggestions have contributed to saving lives. You will play a key part in adding value to operational policing and you could be responsible for providing that single vital piece of information that gets a result.

In this key role you and your team will focused on succeeding, by supporting our colleagues to succeed with their investigations, understanding how you contribute to the Force Commitments on a daily basis.

Key Responsibilities

The key responsibilities for this role are contained within the attached Job Description Document.

Skills & Experience

Our perfect candidate will already have the leadership skills alongside a good understanding of relevant international and domestic legislation that govern our most covert tactics and will already have a working knowledge of investigative processes and how policing works. You’ll be confident in ensuring that we are not overstepping into peoples’ privacy and yet at the same time you can be creative and proactive in providing operational solutions. You will be able to ask the right questions and translate technical legislative matters into everyday language. You will be able to demonstrate your natural flair with your interpersonal and communication skills with contacts across the whole of the Force and you are going to be ready to be resilient and tactful particularly with senior officers under significant operational pressure. If you want to be successful for this role you’ll need to be ready to learn as you will be embedded into a world of continuous professional development. Our managers will support you with training plans that are geared to individuals’ needs and you’ll be encouraged and supported to become an accredited and trusted expert.

Further Information

Contact Details For further information please contact T/D/Supt Colin Pirie on 07967986980.

This vacancy will be based at Headquarters, Guildford. Please note that in 2024 Surrey Police Headquarters is due to move to Leatherhead.

The post holder: Will be required to be ‘management vetted’ and ‘SC vetted’ in view of the work that will be undertaken. Has to learn the use of many IT systems used within and outside the force and to demonstrate commitment to ongoing development. Must be able to attend a residential course to become an accredited ‘Single Point of Contact’ for the acquisition of communications data. Will have the ability to assimilate and retain a full working knowledge and understanding of the structure, operational functions, procedures and policies of both the Surrey and Sussex Police Forces.

Has to take part in an on call rota (On a regular basis), a potential shift pattern covering seven days and evenings and also to assist in providing 24 hour cover where the need arises. This is a non-confrontational role that isn’t front line facing. However, due to the callout and force control room support you must be able to work considerably extended shifts at short notice when required, (including night working) which could require sustained, pressured computer and phone work and supporting senior officers including the chief constable with high level authorties often in a dynamic fast moving environment including crimes in action . Candidates selected for an interview will also be required to pass a computer based assessment.

Additional Information

Surrey Police and Sussex Police work together in collaboration for this role, however they remain two different employers, with differing pay scales, allowances and terms and conditions including hours of employment.

This post is being advertised in parallel with Force redeployment processes. Any redeployees who are identified will be given preference. This may result in the post being withdrawn at any point during the recruitment process.

If you are an internal candidate looking to apply for this role, it is really important that you inform and seek support from your line manager of your intention to submit an application for this role as this allows for sufficient resource planning. Failure to inform your line manager may result in a delay in a release dates being agreed.

If you are conditionally offered the role your attendance record and any reasonable adjustments already in place will be discussed with yourself and your current line manager. If you are successful in your application, you may be required to resign and transfer your employment, taking on the Terms & Conditions and pay scales of the Lead Force (if this is not your existing Home Force).

Surrey Police and Sussex Police Special Constables, Volunteers and Agency Staff (excluding self employed workers) covered under the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) are eligible to apply for internal advertised posts.

Diversity Statement

We are only as good as our people. It’s really important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we’ll grow from the variety of thinking, approach and skills that diversity brings; all of which help us deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.

We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and Disability Confident, a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.

We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status or religious beliefs, we would love to hear from you.

Attachments

• SPOC Manger Advert.docx
• RIPA Compliance Unit Manager.doc

Job Detail

Reference number

SYSX STAFF01674

Date posted

29/06/2021

Closing date

08/07/2021

Force

Surrey Police & Sussex Police Collaboration

Starting Salary Between

£30,000 - £39,999

Location

Surrey Police Headquarters, Guildford (Surrey Police HQ Is Due To Move To Leatherhead In 2024)