About us
At Wiltshire Police, we are dedicated to making our community a safer place for everyone. Our team is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and service. We believe in creating a supportive and inclusive environment where every member can thrive and make a meaningful impact. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to advance, Wiltshire Police offers a range of opportunities to grow and develop. Join us, and be part of a team that values courage, compassion, and dedication to public service. Help us to keep Wiltshire safe.
Wiltshire has lots of layers - prehistoric stones, wartime bunkers, secret trails and hidden churches. But behind all of that, keeping our community safe across the years are generations of quiet police work. Some of it heroic, some of it worrying, but all of it real.
We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer, and we’re committed to building an inclusive, diverse community that celebrates and welcomes everyone.
If there are any adjustments we could make to the recruitment and selection process to support you, please let us know
About the role
Are you a self-motivated, forward planning individual with excellent interpersonal skills and ability to negotiate and influence at all levels?
We have an exciting opportunity to join the SW Forensics team in a new role as a Data Forensics Compliance Officer.
Join our Data Forensics team and play a pivotal role in maintaining the highest standards of forensic quality, integrity, and compliance. Working alongside the Data Forensic Technical Lead Manager, you will provide independent professional assurance that digital forensic examinations meet regulatory, accreditation, and evidential requirements.
The postholder will take responsibility for the management of the technical investigation including securing and retrieving data from seized computer systems and mobile devices, including configuration of operating systems and applications, attending searches where necessary, producing technical documentation in relation to data retrieved from computers and media.
As a subject matter expert, you will apply advanced knowledge and experience equivalent to an accredited Digital Forensic Investigator (DFI) and Mobile Device Examiner (MDE) to conduct peer reviews, audits, and quality assurance activities. Your expertise will help ensure all forensic work is robust, legally defensible, and fully compliant with the Forensic Science Regulator's Code of Practice, ISO/IEC 17025, and the force's digital forensic strategy.
You will use your professional judgement to independently assess forensic methodologies, interpretation, reporting, and compliance with established processes, providing constructive challenge where appropriate. Your work will be instrumental in protecting the integrity of digital evidence, supporting the criminal justice system, maintaining accreditation, and reducing forensic risk.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced data forensic professional who is passionate about quality, continuous improvement, and delivering excellence in forensic science.
Main responsibilities:
- Conduct Subject Matter Expert (SME) peer review of digital forensic reports and associated casework, applying expert forensic knowledge to assess a variety of data.
- Exercise independent professional judgement when reviewing work completed by accredited DFIs and MDEs, providing authoritative challenge, feedback, and assurance where required to maintain evidential integrity and
compliance. - Maintain accurate records of peer review and quality activity, analysing findings to identify trends, systemic risks, skills gaps, or training needs, and escalating insight to Technical and Operational Managers where forensic risk is identified.
- Conduct witnessed audits and quality assurance activity to assess laboratory compliance with ISO 17025:2017 and the FSR Code, identifying non-conformances, areas of risk, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Undertake forensic risk assessments in line with the FSR Code, producing reports that identify, assess, and communicate tool, process, and methodological limitations that may impact evidential reliability, accreditation, or criminal justice outcomes.
- Conduct software testing, validation support, and associated documentation, maintaining records that support evidential defensibility, quality assurance, and ongoing accreditation requirements.
- Support the maintenance and control of forensic documentation within the Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring documentation accurately reflects current operational practice, training, and competence. Where required, contribute to the drafting or critical review of SOPs and technical documentation.
- Support validation, verification, and compliance activity, ensuring appropriately competent forensic personnel carry out technical work in accordance with the FSR Code and accreditation standards.
- Contribute to the investigation and resolution of non-conformances, supporting the implementation of corrective actions, process improvements, or policy amendments to mitigate forensic and organisational risk.
- Operate as part of a regional collaboration of four police forces, contributing to consistent forensic standards, quality assurance, and compliance across organisational boundaries.
About you and your experience
- Formal qualification in Digital Forensics or a closely related ICT / technical discipline (e.g. degree in Digital Forensics), or demonstrable equivalent professional experience.
- Substantial applied experience within a digital forensic environment, including previous competency certification
demonstrating the ability to conduct, interpret, and report on digital forensic examinations of computers, mobile devices, or electronic storage media. - Expert level working knowledge of digital forensic methodologies, tools, evidential interpretation, and reporting standards sufficient to provide authoritative peer review and professional challenge to accredited Digital Forensic Investigators and Mobile Device Examiners.
- Strong applied understanding of ISO 17025:2017, ILAC G19, and the Forensic Science Regulator Code of Practice, including their practical application within operational forensic environments.
- Strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and the ability to communicate complex forensic and compliance issues clearly to practitioners and managers.
- Proven ability to exercise independent professional judgement, manage sensitive forensic risk, and work with minimal supervision.
- Good interpersonal / engagement skills and ability to build effective relationships with forensic practitioners and leaders
What we offer
• Excellent career development opportunities
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 30 days
• Flexi hours scheme
• Free On-Site Gym membership
• Physical and mental well-being support
• Generous Pension scheme
Please note, all roles will be subject to a vetting procedure, some roles due to the nature of their work, will require additional security clearance.
Depending on the number of applications received, we reserve the right to close this role early.
We are proud of being a truly inclusive organisation who provides fair and equal consideration to all of our applicants. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, disabilities, sexual orientation, religions or beliefs and of neuro divergence.
