Technical Surveillance Officer - Technical Surveillance Unit / Serious & Organised Crime

The Role

An Opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and dynamic individual to join the Technical Surveillance Unit. The TSU provides specialist technical capabilities and solutions (the collection of evidence and Intelligence) to today’s modern policing problems in accordance with Bedfordshire’s organisational needs and priorities. The successful applicant will form part of a small, highly skilled team based at Kempston Headquarters and will receive extensive training which includes, camera, audio and IP networking skills. The Successful candidate may be required to work outside of the Bedfordshire Police area together with unsociable hours when required and must be able to work with a minimum supervision.

Applicants must hold or be prepared to undergo Management Vetting and Security clearance before taking up the post. The post holder will need to possess a full driving licence.

Key responsibilities include:

• Use knowledge and experience to be able to analyse and define user problems and provide sustainable technical solutions.
• The ability to prioritise own workload and operate with minimum supervision.
• Maintain complex technical equipment that is suitable for deployment when tackling major incidents and serious organised crime.
• Employ a variety of advanced techniques to deploy and operate sensitive equipment approved by the Technical Surveillance Unit.
• To act and deploy in a manner that conforms to the nationally recognised Standard Operating Procedures to protect the security and integrity of operations, techniques, equipment and staff involved. The safety and security of all personnel connected in any way with the technical solution.
• To participate in the safe use, maintenance, storage, retrieval, and disposal of equipment and administer in accordance with the organisations policy.
• Conduct local and regional site visits as required to support the completion of accurate feasibility studies for consideration by Chief Officers, Senior Investigating Officers and authorising officers.
• Work in accordance with the Government Protective Marking Scheme.
• Competent in preparing accurate reports, statements of evidence, risk assessments and feasibility studies using good written and information communication technology skills.
• Maintain accurate TSU records and ensure that these are resilient to inspection.
• Provide instruction and mentoring in the appropriate use of technical solutions.
• Conduct briefings and presentations at all levels of the organisation.
• Maintain security measures for TSU premises, its equipment and operations in accordance with TSU SOP’s.
• Working at heights and safe use of ladders (for the installation and recovery of equipment) in accordance with the identified Risk Assessments and Method Statements.
• The safe use of the harmonised and colour coded electrical cabling of all equipment in order to comply with the latest IEE Wiring Regulations.
• Conduct Physical and Electronic counter Surveillance measures where members of the Force or the Public are subject to Electronic Surveillance Techniques.
• Maintenance of the TSU network including its design, configuration and security. This includes the configuration of routers, switches, maintenance of servers and software upgrades.
• Provide Targeted Equipment Interference services in accordance with Force and National Guidelines

  Essential Requirements

• Ability to deal with complex issues in adverse, covert, hostile environments.
• Proven ability for innovation and development of new techniques.
• Preparation of reports for operational & Technical matters.
• Problem solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills dealing with people under challenging and sensitive conditions.
• Qualified in at least one technical discipline - HND, HNC or a minimum of BTEC level in RF, C.C.T.V, Electronics or computing (a minimum of 1-year recent practical experience of computer networking technology (IP -Internet Protocol) is an essential attribute for this role).

If you wish to discuss this role in more detail, please email tsu@beds.police.uk

Applicants are required to provide written evidence around the entry requirements from the attached Role profile (Max 500 words).

All internal applicants must have successfully completed their probationary period in order to apply for this role. 

Internal applicants within Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Constabularies, should upload either a CV or a completed ‘Staff internal role summary’ form, which can be found in the vacancy documents below. Please note you will be required to provide a statement no more than 500 words against the entry requirements as stipulated in the role profile. You will be expected to provide this while completing online application.  

External applicants should ensure that your current CV is uploaded and provide a statement no more than 500 words against the entry requirements as stipulated in the role profile. You will be expected to provide this while completing online application. To ensure the recruitment process is fair and equal, please do not include personal details on your CV other than your name.

This vacancy is live to those at risk of redundancy and will remain open to redeployees until the conditional offer stage throughout the recruitment process. Any redeployee that wishes to apply should apply through the Redeployment Portal and provide a statement no more than 500 words against the entry requirements only. Please see attached role profile for guidance. Redeployees will take priority over other applicants at any point during the recruitment process up until conditional offer. 

This force is a Disability Confident Leader. Should you require any workplace adjustments for your recruitment journey with us which you have not informed us of, please contact us on 01438 757777 or email us on careers@bch.police.uk and we will be happy to support you.  If you have a disability and you meet the minimum criteria for the position you are applying for, you will be entitled to an interview under the ‘Offer an Interview Scheme’. 

Everyone at Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Constabularies, take personal responsibility to help create an inclusive workplace, where police officers and staff respect one another, feel valued for their differences and can be themselves. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments, wherever needed so everyone feels welcome and can flourish. 

It is recommended that you download and store a copy of the role profile as this will no longer be available once the advert has closed. We try to speak to our applicants however, we may receive a high number of applications that can delay our response.  Please assume that you have not been shortlisted for the role if we have not responded 4 weeks after the closing date.

All applications must be submitted through our online recruitment website by clicking the apply button below.