Salary Banding: £23,766 - £31,725 (career graded)
Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm.
Please note this is subject to review and there may be a requirement to work weekends, a shift pattern, or be part of an on call rota.
The role:
Our Digital Forensic Team is responsible for analysing more than 2,000 devices each year, securing evidence for some of the North East’s most high profile court cases.
The work of our Digital Forensic Investigators has real-world significance and the DFU team helps the Force to investigate all types of crime, from murders and sexual exploitation, to frauds and burglaries.
In this role you’ll be required to acquire and process data from digital storage devices, perform review and analysis tasks and create reports with associated data products. All processes will be conducted in compliance with the DFU Quality Management System (ISO17025/FSR Codes of Practice and Conduct) and in a manner acceptable to the courts.
The role will require you to work closely with colleagues both within the DFU and throughout the Northumbria Police whilst providing specialist knowledge and support to investigations. You’ll be operating at the forefront of digital forensics practices, researching emerging technology and undergoing training in order to keep up to date with developments in the field.
In return for your dedication and experience, we offer 23 days’ leave, excluding bank holidays, increasing to 28 days for 5 years+ service. We support our people inside and out of work – offering a very competitive pension scheme, childcare vouchers, and discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card. And to take care of your physical and mental wellbeing, we’ve invested in extensive paid sick leave, trained mental health first aiders on-site, an employee advice service and access to gyms in some stations.
What will I be doing?
You will undertake a wide range of operational tasks whilst providing a professional, high quality service to support investigations conducted by Northumbria Police.
The role includes; exhibit handling, physical examination of exhibits, dismantling and repair of computers and mobile phones to enable triage of exhibits or forensic acquisition of storage media, processing of acquired data, review and analysis, investigation and production of reports and related exhibits. Having an analytical approach to conducting daily tasks is essential.
You will use your advanced technical knowledge, and verbal and written communication skills, to support investigators throughout the force, presenting factual evidence to the OIC and Crown Prosecution Service and attend court to present your evidence.
You will provide professional advice to investigators, with the occasional requirement to attend crime scenes in order to assists with evidence gathering or triaging processes.
A significant part of this role involves the examination and grading of child sexual abuse material. Pre-employment screening, mandatory counselling (every 6 months) and other protective mechanisms will be provided by Northumbria Police to monitor and support the health and wellbeing of its staff.
What do I need?
You will either hold an appropriate degree qualification or have significant experience relevant to the field of Digital Forensics.
You will be required to undertake a practical test to demonstrate your technical knowledge as part of the recruitment process.
Dependent upon experience, you may be required to successfully complete a two week residential course (Core Skills in Data Recovery and Analysis) at the College of Policing and continued employment in this role will be dependent on this. Once qualified, there will be the opportunity to progress through a career grade structure based on training and experience. If successful you will have a two year commitment to the role due to the high level of training you will receive. Internal applications within this two year period will not be supported.
Vetting level:
Management Vetting (MV).
Applicants must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 3 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed.
A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information and references. Given the nature of the role, a higher level of medical clearance is required.
All staff including those appointed on fixed term contracts must successfully complete their probationary period to be eligible to apply
Northumbria Police are currently undertaking a role and reward project in respect of all police staff posts. For further information please contact the Talent Acquisition team.
If you have any queries with regard to the application process please contact our Talent Acquisition Team by email at careers@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
Vacancy Contact:
For further information regarding the above post please contact the Digital Forensics Unit Manager on 0191 4373507.
Northumbria Police fully supports a policy of equal opportunities and we welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.