We are seeking to recruit experienced surveillance operatives and welcome applications from candidates who are;

• Currently accredited Police advanced drivers
• Hold a College of Policing Q1/Q100 qualification (or recognised equivalent)
• Hold Professionalising Investigation Program (PIP) level 1 or level 2 (or a recognised qualification/accreditation to investigate crime issued by a Government body).

The role of an Authorised Firearms Officer in the NCA is to provide an armed and unarmed covert and overt response in accordance with business requirements that contribute towards the achievement of the Agency strategic objectives.  Officers will be trained and deployed in various roles depending on agency need, these include but are not limited to; Unarmed Surveillance, MOE/Arrest capability, Taser support to surveillance and/or arrests, Armed Surveillance and Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance (MAStS).

This DD area incorporates our response to organised immigration crime (OIC), the Command's London-based multi-threat and borders teams, and the Special Operations Unit (SOU).

• Operations and investigations - Participate in operations and investigations, gathering information, intelligence and evidence in order to build knowledge of serious and organised crime and support the achievement of Agency objectives.
• Deployment - Deploy on unarmed operations including surveillance and arrest enquires in support of agency objectives. Deploy operationally as a Firearms Officer, Commander or Advisor in accordance with own training in support of Agency firearms operations including arrests, armed surveillance and MAStS.
• Planning and implementation - Provide advice on legislation, policy and tactical options to assist in the planning and implementation of investigations and operations.
• Acquisition and development of intelligence - To contribute to the acquisition and development of tactical and strategic intelligence focused on serious and organised crime affecting the UK.
• Tactical and strategic support - Ensure the quality, secure handling and dissemination of intelligence, maintaining confidentiality, sensitivity and duty of care in line with Agency policy.
• Case management - Role may require case management, and to create, maintain and update departmental records, including operational or programme activity spreadsheet, case files and monthly reports.
• Security and confidentiality - Ensure the quality, secure handling and dissemination of intelligence, maintaining confidentiality, sensitivity and duty of care in line with Agency policy.
• Collaboration - Build good working relationships with both internal and external partners.
• Flexibility - Have flexibility to assist with other agency priorities / investigations when required.
• Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST) - It is an essential requirement for successful candidates to pass an eight-day Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST). Applicants are urged to consider whether this is achievable prior to applying. The PPST combines cognitive input, armed and unarmed defence theory and practical techniques and, as such, requires a level of physical exertion due to the nature and repetition of the drills. The practical techniques include use of body weapons, movement and positioning, strikes (armed/unarmed) blocks, restraint and control. We will expect officers attending the course to have a standard of physical fitness. Progressive full body warm-ups are conducted each day to minimize risk of injury to the officer. It is expected that the officer is capable of a ground descent and ascent, unaided and within a reasonable timeframe. This is important both individually and in team tactics. Candidates must pass the PPST during the first 6 months of starting in the role. Failure to do so would mean you would not be able to continue in the role and your employment with the NCA will end. Barring any exceptional circumstances, the NCA would not seek to find you an alternative role within the agency. An officer who passes the PPST will still be required to successfully pass their 12-month probation period to ensure continued employment with the NCA.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Communication - Good communication skills with the ability to listen, empathise, provide support and adapt language, form and message to meet the needs of different people and audiences. 

Legislation - Good understanding of UK or International legislation affecting NCA/Police Service Investigations.

Risk Management - Good understanding of risk management in an operational environment.

Conflict management - Proven experience of conflict management in an operational environment.

Covert working - Proven experience in working in a covert environment.

Please Note:

Candidates must be able to evidence deployment on two surveillance operations in the preceding 6 months as per CoP requirements.

Are Professionalising Investigation Program (PIP) level 1 or level 2 (or a recognised qualification/accreditation to investigate crime issued by a Government body).

All candidates will be subject to surveillance assessment and professional discussion. This will cover training undertaken and recent deployment experience to assess a candidate’s compliance with College of Policing deployment criterion.

Officers joining the NCA on a PIP equivalent basis must attain the required PIP accreditation, and this will include taking all relevant exams and could include the requirement to complete an assessed portfolio of workplace-based evidence.

Full guidance and information can be found in the NCA applicant guidance attached to the advert on advertiser's site.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Changing and Improving

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Good understanding of risk management in a covert operational environment.
• Good understanding of UK or international legislation affecting NCA/Police Service Investigations.
• Proven experience of conflict management in an operational environment.
• Experience in Improving culture within a team and measuring success.

All officers in the NCA are members of the UK Civil Service. You will be eligible for:

• Civil Service pension scheme 26 days annual leave rising to 31 on completion of 5 years continuous service.
• If qualifying criteria is met new joiners to the NCA from UK Police Forces or UKIC will have service with those employers taken into account for continuous service purposes for Annual Leave entitlement only, this will be up to a maximum of 31 days leave (including 1 privilege day).
• Training and development opportunities
• Special leave
• Flexible working and family friendly policies
• Cycle to work scheme
• Blue Light scheme
• A range of sporting and other activities on offer
• We can provide flexible working arrangements if the role in question is suitable. This includes flexi-time, job sharing, and compressed hours (working contracted hours over a shorter period).

For further details on benefits please visit our benefits and undefined page.

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment undefined (opens in a new window).

Job contact :

• Name : NCA Recruitment Team
• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk