Drug Witness Expert
We are welcoming applications for the role of Drug Witness Expert with Devon & Cornwall Police based at the following location(s): Newquay
Salary: Grade 6 - Starts at £32,247 rising by yearly increments to a maximum of £35,526 per annum
Please note that the above salary is based on working 37 hours per week. If this role is part-time or you are appointed on a part-time basis your salary will be prorated to reflect this. Exceptions to starting salary may apply if you are an existing Devon and Cornwall or Dorset Police Staff employee substantively posted to a role at the same grade.
Type of employment: Permanent
The principal responsibility of the Drugs Expert Witness is to co-ordinate all drugs-related activity within their geographical area and to liaise with the Force Level II Drugs Expert Officer for offences that transcend geographical and force boundaries to ensure these are appropriately addressed. In particular to:
- Complete expert statements and attend court to present evidence when required.
- Act as a Single Point of Contact (Health Act 2006 / ACPO Guidelines) with Accountable Officers and Local Intelligence Networks (LINs)
- Conduct Joint Investigations with Royal Pharmaceutical Society/Inspector where appropriate.
- Assist BCU officers in the investigation of offences involving controlled drugs and where appropriate conduct testing, identification, and valuation.
- Assist BCU officers in the investigations of Drugs Deaths, liaising with SIOs, partner agencies and Coroners’ Officers, ensuring they maintain an accurate record of such deaths.
- Assist in the screening/authorisation of Drugs for Forensic Analysis (MGFSS – Lab) Submission Process.
- Be responsible for the formal destruction of drugs.
- Ensure the drug-pricing guide is completed in a timely fashion.
- Conduct awareness training in Cannabis Evidence and Module 1 Force Standard Drugs Course.
- Liaise with the National Association of Controlled Drugs Liaison Officers (NACDLO) and update BCU testers with changes in procedures and laws.
- Ensure the standardisation of all forensic drugs submissions (including authorisation and packaging).
- Provide direction and assistance to the Drug Property Officers.
- Attend Local Intelligence Network (LIN) Meetings working with partner agencies with the aim to reduce drug related crime and crime related activity and ensure standardisation throughout the pharmaceutical Society.
For further detail about the post, please call:
DS Alex Pym 07713 309 344
Want to know more about this role?
Further detail regarding this role and the essential requirements can be found within the role profile attached below.
If you think this may be the role for you and would like further information, please contact:
Hiring Line Manager: Steven Moorcroft - DI SOCB
Email Address: steven.moorcroft@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Telephone Number: 07731860115
What you get if you join us:
If you work for us, you will get access to:
- A competitive salary with yearly increments.
- 25 days a year leave entitlement, with an increase to 30 days after 5 years continuous employment, plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time workers).
- Access to heavily subsidised gym membership that will provide you access to police site gyms throughout the counties.
- Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme for discounts and services (requires a one off payment of £5).
- Company sick pay.
- Competitive local government pension scheme.
- Job related equipment, as required.
- Free onsite parking at many police sites throughout the counties.
- Access to Group insurance scheme (via salary sacrifice scheme).
- Support networks, free Employees Assistance Programme, Occupational Health and wellbeing services.
- Development and training opportunities.
- Supportive and flexible training plan, including regular check-ins throughout your initial period of joining us to ensure you are up to speed with the role and getting the support you need.
- Flexitime, with the ability to undertake your hours flexibly and in line with business need.
- Hybrid working, with the ability to work remotely at times throughout the working week (once signed off the training plan).
Recruitment process
Additional Information
Application Stage:
To apply for this role, click the 'apply' button below, you will then be taken to a registration page. Please complete this registration form to create an account, once created you will be taken to the application.
Already have an account? If you have previously created an account, please click 'login' at the bottom of the page next to the 'submit registration' button. Once logged in, you will be taken to the application.
Once registered, you will have to complete an eligibility form to apply. If eligible you will move to the application form stage where you will evidence your suitability for this post. The closing date for applications is 25/04/2025, 12:00.
Selection Stage:
The selection for this role will consist of Shortlisting, Interview.
Applications will be anonymised and then shortlisted by the shortlisting panel. Following the shortlisting you will be notified of the recruitment decision via email along with feedback on your application.
If successful, you will then be invited to an interview. This will be based on the behaviours outlined within the role profile. The interview process is due to take place week commencing 12 May 2025.
Some roles may also require an assessment and / or fitness test. Further information on this will be provided following the shortlisting process. The assessment and / or fitness test date will be on if applicable, otherwise N/A.
Pre-requisites:
If you are successful through the selection stage of the recruitment process, we will make a conditional offer of appointment and commence pre-requisite checks. These checks can include:
- Vetting checks,
- Reference checks,
- Medical assessment,
- Qualification review,
- Right to Work checks.
A formal offer of appointment and start date will not be agreed until all checks are satisfactorily completed. If you are successful at the selection stage your conditional offer will outline which of these checks are applicable to you.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
The application system only remains active on a single page for a period of 60 minutes.
Please ensure you allow time to complete your application fully as part complete pages do not save.
If the role has evidence questions you are required to complete in the application form, you may wish to complete these remotely and then paste your answers into the boxes at time of submission. Please note, each evidence criterion is set to a maximum of 2000 characters.
We welcome the use of AI responsibly and ethically to demonstrate your skills in your application, but please don’t allow it to overshadow your own unique voice. While we appreciate innovative approaches, we also value authenticity. Our assessment considers the content of the application and the skills you demonstrate, ensuring fairness and inclusivity for all applicants. At the end of the day – we want YOU to work for us!