ROCUWM TOEX - Intelligence Researcher (FTC/Secondment)

Prospective officers and staff must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members of the public, and that therefore their right to privacy can be fettered in certain circumstances. This is to ensure that members of the police are fully aware and accountable for the unique powers entrusted to them and the standards of professional behaviour they swear to uphold. 

MANAGEMENT VETTING / SECURITY CLEARANCE DESIGNATED POST
 

ROCUWM TOEX - Intelligence Researcher (Fixed-Term Contract/Secondment)

The Tackling Organised Exploitation Programme (TOEX) has been commissioned since 2021 to contribute to a whole systems approach to improve the response to the ‘exploitation of the vulnerable’ within the current National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime, developing a model that supports an enhanced intelligence picture to inform activity; operational tasking and coordination; and capability development.

This role will be based within the Birmingham Central. Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU).  These units form a critical part of the national policing network, provide a range of specialist policing capabilities to forces which help them to tackle serious and organised crime effectively. These capabilities include undercover policing, specialist surveillance, and cyber-crime investigation.

ROCUs investigate and disrupt organised crime groups operating across police force boundaries, additionally they act as an important point of connection between police forces and the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Grant funded to 31 March 2026, the TOEX vacancies represent a unique opportunity to join a cutting-edge programme which will deliver a first of its kind intelligence and performance framework. Each successful candidate will have a personal development plan which will build on their current knowledge and skills – and provide a clear learning pathway to realise their full potential.

TOEX Researchers undertake qualitative and quantitative research to produce intelligence and/or inform analytical products.

Key Responsibilities:

• Under the direction of the Senior Intelligence Analyst and Intelligence Supervisor; collect, collate and evaluate information from a wide variety of sources.
• Prepare, develop and deliver research summaries and findings to clearly and accurately inform decision making and/or facilitate analysis.
• Present the results of research in the most suitable format for inclusion within the final products created by either the Intelligence Analyst or Intelligence Development Officer.
• Work with the national TOEX team to utilise new and existing analytical and research capabilities through the TOEX Operating Model.
• Liaise with internal and external contacts to facilitate appropriate information sharing and promote the integration of the TOEX operating model into the Sensitive Intelligence Network.
• Maintain awareness of national and regional priorities and trends around organised exploitation.
• Any other duties that are commensurate with the role and grade as requested by management

Knowledge And Skills:

Essential

• Some experience within the discipline of research, not necessarily gained within Policing.
• Basic understanding of the various analytical products in which the research findings may be used.
• Ability to consider and assess the suitability of information sources (for all types of information e.g. open and closed, police and partner).
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and/or guidance for example; General Data Protection regulation, Information Sharing, Disclosure Data Protection Act and RIPA.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks through effective time management and assessment and prioritisation of workloads
• Good communication skills, able to quickly build positive working relationships with internal and external clients.
• An ability to bring flexibility, curiosity and diverse perspectives into your work to achieve successful business outcomes

Desirable

• Intelligence Professionalism Programme (IPP) Accreditation
• Experience of working in a sensitive environment, dealing with both sensitive and personal data.
• Experience of working within the thematic of Exploitation, Modern Slavery, County Lines or Organised Crime Groups.

Hours Of Work

The core hours of this role will be Monday to Friday 0800 to 1600hrs, working outside of these hours may be required due to prevailing workloads and priorities. There may also be a requirement at times to travel to other locations.

Must have capability to travel to different locations across the Region and undertake all assignments in a timely manner. Due to the requirement to work flexibly, unsocial hours and personal safety for lone working; public transport may not be available or suitable at these times.

Vetting And Medical:

Successful applicants will be required to pass Management Vetting and Enhanced Security Clearance scrutiny prior to commencing their role, this will include a full background & financial disclosure as part of the vetting process. The medical assessment may include a drug and hearing test.

Contact:

If you would like more information regarding this vacancy please contact TOEX ROCUWM at toex_rocuwm@westmidlands.police.uk 

Probationary Policy:

Under the Probation Policy, if you are currently in your probation period, “during your probationary period you will not be permitted to apply for alternative police staff roles within the Force unless there are exceptional circumstances. In such cases, you would require the support of your line manager prior to applying for alternative roles, and if successful, your probationary period will start over.”- Policies - Probation Period (Police Staff) (wmpad.local)

Secondment Statements:

Secondment Policy: (paragraph 7.3)

For the duration of the secondment, you will be paid at the appropriate rate for the role that you are seconded into. In general terms, the expectation is that this will be the bottom spinal column point for the appropriate grade, as per our standard recruitment process.

The only exception to this is where you are seconded to a role of the same grade, in which case your substantive spinal column point should continue to be paid. Where you or your manager feel that you have relevant skills and experience for the role which would require consideration of a higher spinal column point, a salary justification form will need to be completed and sent to the Reward Team for review and consideration in line with usual recruitment processes. 

If you are seconded into a role of a lower grade than your substantive post, you will receive the maximum spinal column point for that grade. Shift allowances and payments for unsociable or weekend working will only be paid as applicable to the role that you are seconded into (at the applicable rate). In other words, if you receive shift allowance in your substantive role, however the role that you are seconded into doesn’t attract a shift allowance you will not receive this for the duration of the secondment.

To view the full Secondment Policy please visit Policies - Secondments Policy (wmpad.local) 

If you are considering applying for this secondment opportunity, please discuss it with your line manager to ensure that you will be released from your current role, should you be successful.

West Midlands Police is a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions.  As part of our commitment we operate a ‘Disability Confident Interview Scheme’ - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.

It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example: in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non-disabled applicants.

Diversity and Inclusion Vision:  Maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities"

West Midlands Police is the second largest police force in the country, covering an area of 348 square miles and serving a population of almost 2.8 million. 

The region sits at the very heart of the country and covers the three major centres of Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton. It also includes the busy and thriving districts of Sandwell, Walsall, Solihull and Dudley. Leisure, retail and conference amenities, together with Premiership and Championship football teams, attract millions of visitors annually. 

The West Midlands is an area rich in diversity, with 18 per cent of its population from ethnic minority backgrounds. 

An average of 170,000 motorists travel through the region daily, making its motorways some of the busiest in Europe. 

Against this backdrop, the force deals with more than 2,000 emergency calls for help every day, as well as patrolling the streets and responding to incidents 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week.