Document Reader
Role: Document Reader
Department: Crime Services
Location: Swan House
Salary: £31,296 - £35,526
Hours: 37
Contract Type: Temporary for 12 months
We are looking for a detail-oriented and committed individual to support major investigations by undertaking key roles within the Major Incident Room, in line with the national Major Incident Room Standardised Administrative Procedures (MIRSAP).
In this role, you will:
- Perform the duties of Receiver and Document Reader using the Home Office Large Major Enquiry System (HOLMES).
- Ensure compliance with national standards and the Force’s Serious Crime Services (SCS) Incident Room Management Policy.
- Support the investigative process by acting as an Investigating Officer, contributing to the effective progression of major enquiries.
This is a critical role for anyone passionate about supporting complex investigations and ensuring the highest standards of case management.
Key responsibilities:
- Receive and read all material (statements, documents, interviews etc.) submitted to the Major Incident Room, identifying lines of enquiry, and raising actions to further the investigation
- Read and assess content of material to be marked up either graphically or manually using HOLMES or a paper-based spreadsheet and underline or highlight the content of the material to be indexed, indicating which index records or documentary cross references are to be created or updated.
- Where any line of enquiry is apparent give explicit instructions to raise an appropriate action, assessing the priority of the action and record a summary of the document/material.
- Direct other staff including Indexers in respect of the line of inquiry.
- Attend all briefings held by the SIO and contribute to strategy meetings and directed lines of enquiry as part of the Major Crime Management team.
- Maintain the pending queue for those actions where enquiries have been started but cannot be completed until a future date and maintains the referred queue for those Actions, which are not to be allocated.
- Where necessary, perform the role of Action manager as determined in the MIRSAP manual which involves Receiving and maintaining returned actions from outside officers ensuring that they have been completed correctly and identifying any further issues or actions arising.
- Allocate actions to the Outside Investigators, giving consideration to current lines of enquiry, the type of enquiry to be made and the location of the officers, ensuring all relevant information, documentation and intelligence is available
- Identify, in liaison with the SIO, actions which are to be referred, or pended.
- Assist in management of the investigative process by conducting/managing investigations and submit case files to enable prosecutions.
- Provide support and ongoing victim care throughout the investigative process.
- Participate in the casualty bureau where required.
- Carry out any other duties commensurate with the purpose and grading of the post that may from time to time be determined.
Skills and experience:
- Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP) Level 2 accredited or alternative relevant qualification/experience.
- Attention to detail with the ability to assimilate information, identify discrepancies and direct action to be taken, information to be recorded with the ability to produce concise and accurate reports.
- Ability to manage own workload, prioritising competing demands from different operations to ensure the enquiries run to their maximum effectiveness and efficiency.
- High level of computer literacy.
- Must be able to successfully complete the HOLMES training course.
- An understanding of criminal legislation including PACE Act 1984, CPIA 1996, Data Protection and the rules of evidence.
Skills and experience as documented in the role profile need to be evidenced in your application to be considered for interview
For more detailed information relating to the role, skills and experience for this role, please click here to view the role profile
What we offer:
We offer generous entitlements and supportive policies to enable a better work-life balance, some of which are listed below:
- A highly competitive salary and access to a generous pension scheme
- Generous annual leave allowance
- A wide range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Flexible working arrangements including flexi-time and hybrid working
- A transparent and collaborative team culture underpinned by our core values of Fairness, Integrity & Trust
- Comprehensive range of development and leadership courses to develop your career with South Yorkshire Police
- Employee Assistant Programme (accessible 24/7) offering confidential support and advice
- Flexible lifestyle benefits such as: Blue Light Card, Company Shop, Cycle to work scheme
- Committed to embedding sustainability: South Yorkshire Police Sustainability Strategy 2020-2025 (yhrn.police)
- Membership to the Sports and Social Club
- Access to a wide range of staff support groups and networks
Eligibility:
Applicants must meet the minimum requirement checkable history criteria, which must be taken into account for individuals applying to work with South Yorkshire Police in any capacity. A minimum checkable history of 3/5 years is required for this role and successfully undergoing recruitment vetting procedure is a pre-requisite of employment with South Yorkshire Police.
Appearance & Standards:
South Yorkshire Police is committed to striking a proportionate balance between self-expression and the need to maintain role sensitive professional standards in dress and appearance. Officers, staff, and volunteers of South Yorkshire Police are permitted to have tattoos visible whilst on duty provided the tattoo is not considered to be unacceptable or otherwise inappropriate. Tattoos will be reviewed as part of the recruitment and selection process.
Smarter ways of Working:
South Yorkshire Police is committed to developing working practices which assist staff to balance their personal and professional lives, whilst meeting the needs of the organisation. This in turn enables South Yorkshire Police to provide an outstanding service to the community.
There are 3 different categories as part of this which are: Fixed, Field and Hybrid.
This role has been evaluated as a Fixed role.
Fixed: This is a traditional arrangement, applicable when the work is mostly required to be undertaken at a fixed single place of work (on police premises) for most of the time. The work can only or is more effectively delivered from a police premises or other agreed organisational/partner premises.
South Yorkshire Police’s Key Values:
At South Yorkshire Police we have 3 key values which run through everything we do Fairness, Integrity & Trust, the attached document details the key behaviours we expect all employees to adhere to.
Contact details:
For further information about the role, please contact Michelle Freedman via email: Michelle.Freedman@southyorkshire.police.uk
Closing Date: 10th August 2025
Closing dates are not normally extended, other than in exceptional circumstances and agreement is made between the Talent Acquisition Manager and the Line Manager for the role.
How to apply:
Please click ‘Apply’
Candidate Information:
Please note that, should you be successful at the interview stage and before appointment, the relevant pre-employment checks are required. These include references, medical clearance, vetting clearance and sickness absence criteria check.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Applications are particularly welcome from female and ethnic minority candidates.
It is really important to us that the department represents the community we serve, in order for us to provide the best service, utilising a range of backgrounds, experience and skills. We support and value all officers and staff and the unique experiences they bring to the role. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from these valuable underrepresented groups.
If you are from an underrepresented group and want to find out more about the support we can offer, please contact our dedicated team on positiveaction@southyorks.pnn.police.uk
In addition, we will look to support anyone who requires Part Time/Job share working hours.
Internal Candidates:
This vacancy is temporary therefore, you must have the support of your current Line Manager to apply. If you are a permanent member of staff, this would be classed as a secondment opportunity. If you are on a fixed term contract, you must contact the Talent Acquisition Team before applying.
Please ensure that you and your current line manager complete the attached consent form. Please email the completed form to the hiring line manager, with the role title and the closing date stated in the subject of your email.
Without support, your application will not be considered any further.
This role is offered on a fixed-term basis in accordance with applicable employment legislation and South Yorkshire Police policy.
Fixed-term contracts are used where there is a genuine business need, such as project-based work, temporary cover or time-limited funding. The fixed term period is subject to change, linked to the posts requirements and may be subject to extension or early termination in line with appropriate notice period.
All fixed-term employees will receive equal treatment and access to opportunities in line with our commitment to fair and inclusive employment practices.
Where appropriate, fixed-term roles may be made permanent without the need for a further recruitment process.
Documents to Review:
For the Police Staff Recruitment Vetting Handbook - Please Click here
For Application Guidance and Tips - Please Click Here
For the FIT Values of South Yorkshire Police - Please Click Here
For Secondment Approval - Please Click Here
View our recruitment video: