Criminal Investigations Officer

Investigation Officer (Criminal Investigations)

Up to 12-month fixed term contract

Full time / Part time 

Salary:          £33,273 - £37,692, with potential for further progression to £42,439 with our pay progression scheme. 

Location:       Hybrid 

Contracted to our Wilmslow office, however, we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need. Please note, from Autumn 2026 our head office will relocate from Wilmslow to Manchester city centre.  

Why work for the ICO? 

• Pay progression scheme.
• Hybrid and flexible working options.  
• 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays. 
• Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year). 
• Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%). 
• Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more. 
• Health Cash Plan. 
• Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress. 

Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website . 

Job Summary

The Investigations department is responsible for all cases forwarded for criminal investigation under the legislation the ICO regulates, and all cases forwarded for consideration of enforcement action under the provisions of that legislation.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.

As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.

Job Description

The responsibility of the Criminal Investigation Officer is to investigate cases forwarded to Investigations for criminal investigation under the Data Protection Act (DPA), Freedom of Information Act (FOI) and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). The investigation of breaches of information and enforcement notices, and to provide assistance with the investigation of cases forwarded for consideration of enforcement action under the provisions of the legislation.

Key Responsibilities:

• To act as primary or supporting investigating officer, under the direction of the Criminal Investigations Manager, by managing a caseload of investigations.
• Responsible for making decisions about day to day priorities, obtaining all necessary evidence to ensure each of your investigations is of sufficient depth.
• Ensure that the weight, value and relevance of evidence available are considered at the start and throughout an investigation, involving the legal team where appropriate at an early stage in investigations.
• Ensure that criminal investigations are completed in a timely and effective manner and in accordance with criminal law and procedures (eg PACE, CPIA, RIPA & HRA).
• Submit telecommunications and directed surveillance applications, where applicable, for the attention of the Telecommunications Single Point of
• Contact (SPoC) in accordance with ICO policy, procedure and the law. Submit directed surveillance applications, where applicable, for the attention of the Head of Investigations.
• Make applications for search warrants to the court, under the direction of the Criminal Investigations Manager, and ensure that searches of premises are conducted thoroughly and safely.
• Attend Court and Tribunals and give evidence on behalf of the Commissioner.
• Give support and advice to other departments within the ICO on investigations, including liaising closely with the ICO Intelligence Hub to submit intelligence reports and share relevant information.
• Comply with the ICO’s information governance policies and procedures and in particular those relating to information security.
• Throughout the investigation process provide a high standard of customer service to all parties, managing expectations sensitively and communicating clearly, regularly and at an appropriate level, in writing, face to face and over the telephone.
• Develop and maintain relationships with any relevant internal/external stakeholders as directed and as appropriate.
• Attend internal meetings and external meetings and events, giving presentations where necessary.
• Provide briefing or guidance material to other ICO departments or for senior members of staff where necessary.
• Collate and submit files of evidence for consideration by the ICO Legal Department as necessary.

Person Specification

Essential criteria assessed at application stage:

• Experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience.
• Good intellectual and analytical ability in order to develop knowledge. Ability to apply complex legislation to a variety of circumstances.
• Ability to manage investigations
• Excellent interpersonal skills with people at all levels

Essential Criteria Assessed During Interview:

• Good intellectual and analytical ability in order to develop knowledge. Ability to apply complex legislation to a variety of circumstances.
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage investigations
• Ability to deal with a demanding workload and to prioritise accordingly
• Ability to work on own initiative and as a member of a team
• Ability to make presentations to small groups
• Ability to ensure that the highest standards of quality and customer care are achieved
• Excellent interpersonal skills with people at all levels
• Ability to use standard office IT packages, such as Word, Excel, Outlook.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.  

Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme. 

As part of the ICO’s commitment to our EDI objectives and creating a workplace that represents the communities and societies we serve, we guarantee an interview to candidates who declare they identify as belonging from an ethnic minority background and who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy

If you are disabled or have an impairment and require an alternative application method, please email the HR team at recruitment@ico.org.uk

Closing Date

Please submit your CV by 23:59, 5 October

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact us at recruitment@ico.org.uk.

In the event of a high volume of applications, we may not be able to invite all candidates who meet the minimum criteria to interview. However, we encourage you stay in touch and apply for future roles that match your interests.

All candidates who meet the minimum criteria and apply in-line with our guaranteed interview scheme for disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be interviewed.

Please note that post holders for this role will be required to receive security clearance to SC level. This requires the disclosure of spent and unspent convictions. Although convictions will be taken into account, any such information will not necessarily prevent you from obtaining a security clearance.