Force
Bedfordshire Police
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HIDDEN - Role Type
Police Officer (Internal & ERSOU Recruitment)
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Contract Duration
ERSOU Officer Secondment
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Contract Type
Internal Secondment
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Department
ERSOU - Regional Organised Crime Unit
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Location
Stevenage
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Rank
Sergeant
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Please note, if this is a paid role and the role is part time then the salary quoted will be pro rata based on the hours worked per annum.
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Hours / Week
40
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Competency and Value Framework (CVF) Level
2
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Closing Date
13/09/2026, 23:55
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Job Description
THE ROLE
Applications are invited for an exciting role working in Sensitive Intelligence Unit at the rank of Sergeant or Detective Sergeant ERSOU have responsibility for targeting and disrupting Serious and Organised Crime through the delivery of covert services across the Eastern region. The Sensitive Intelligence Unit (SIU) is a specialist department, at the forefront of intelligence collection and covert policing with responsibility for managing and developing intelligence, assessing the threat picture to the region, and identifying emerging threats and trends.
The SIU intelligence officers are at the heart of delivering specialist covert policing capabilities to tackle threat, risk, harm and identifying opportunities to disrupt Organised Crime Groups. The SIU works closely with partners utilising highly sensitive intelligence feeds conferred by the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA) in support of proactive covert operations.
This advert is open to substantive Sgts and those successful on the NPPF pathway and formally supported for promotion.
Please note, the SIU is a fixed location role as most SIU functions will need to be delivered at a designated / appropriately secure site. However, there will be occasions where some functions can be undertaken remotely, either at an ERSOU or local Police Force building, or from home (subject to suitability checks).
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The role is for a sergeant to lead a team of intelligence officers providing intelligence support to the region’s highest priority Serious and Organised Crime investigations, including drug importation, firearms supply, threats to life and murders as well as leading green rooms to support Kidnap and Extortion Crime in Action investigations led by Major Crime Units.
You will work closely with the National Crime Agency, ERSOU Operational Teams, the Serious and Organised Crime Teams in each of the regional Forces, and any other Force departments or Agency who require specialist intelligence support, providing covert tactical advice to Senior Investigating Officers (SIOs) and rationale to support decision making.
As a sergeant you will be responsible for the development and training of your team, identifying and developing good practice within the unit.
You will also be responsible for assuring that the SIU and its customers are protecting sensitive equities, complying with the Sensitive Intelligence Network Operating Model (SIN OM), relevant codes of practice, safeguards, and legislation (in particular IPA 2016), and will assist with inspections from the NCA, IPCO and SIN.
Experience in working within covert policing and sensitive intelligence is essential for the role with experience of product handling also desirable.
We are looking for officers that demonstrate a passion for interrogating and investigating. If not already achieved, successful candidates will be expected to attain IPP accreditation.
Successful applicants will be driving dynamic covert investigations and they will require a flexible approach to the working day. There is an on-call requirement for 7 days in every 8 weeks including one weekend. The role is fixed location, office based.
The commitment can be challenging but the role is extremely rewarding as you will play a vital role in achieving outcomes against those persons who cause the most harm to our communities.
Interested? See the role profile for more details.
ERSOU – Who we are and what we do
Created in 2010, ERSOU is funded by the seven police forces that make up the eastern region, with Bedfordshire Police being the lead force. ERSOU is the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit, that oversees and delivers a regional level response to Serious and Organised Crime, and Counter Terrorism Policing for the Forces in the Eastern Region.
ERSOU is made up of both Officers and Police Staff from across the entire region and works closely with the 7 Forces and National Partners. The departments are unique, in that they offer opportunities to work and develop individuals professionally in specialist areas, often delivering capabilities that are provided by local forces.
Working for ERSOU presents a fantastic opportunity for you to learn and develop within a unique law enforcement community whose staff and officers are dedicated to protecting the public from the threat of terrorism and serious and organised crime.
We are committed to building a leadership team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals who are currently underrepresented at senior levels, including women, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, disabled people, and those from LGBTQ+ communities.
We value the unique perspectives and experience that diverse leadership brings and welcome candidates who can help us drive inclusive policing and community engagement.
Vetting:
This post is designated a ‘reserved post’ under the Civil Service Nationality Rules and is open only to UK Nationals. Anyone holding dual nationality can make an application but may be required to relinquish non-British nationality if successful (and any entitlement you may have to a foreign nationality) as a condition of your confirmation of appointment with CTP. When applying please click Yes to the British Nationality Question in order to progress to the next step of the application process. One of your parents should also be British or have substantial ties to the UK. In the latter instance, substantial ties means that your parent is a citizen of a British Overseas Territory, a Commonwealth citizen, US citizen, EEA citizen, British national or citizen overseas, and they would need to have demonstrable connections with the UK by way of family history or have been resident here for a substantial period of time.
If you’re already married to, or cohabiting with, a person who isn’t a British citizen, you may still be eligible for employment at the discretion of the department. You should note however, that marriage to, or cohabitation with, a person who isn’t a British citizen after appointment may, in some circumstances, result in the withdrawal of security clearance and subsequent transfer to another department, or (if this is not possible or the officer does not wish to transfer) dismissal. Each case will be considered on its merits, taking into account the ties between the person involved and the United Kingdom.
For Further information
Email us at
[email protected] , emails will be forwarded on to the relevant recruiting manager. Or visit our website at (ERSOU) and we will endeavour to reply within 3 working days.
FORCES SUPPORT
Essex / Kent Officers
Before submitting an application, please ensure that this advert has been supported by your home force, and that you have read and understood the eligibility criteria - the link for this can be found on your home force’s Secondments and External Opportunities webpage. If you are unsure, please contact HR Resource Planning on
Kent & Essex HR (Resource Planning)
[email protected]
(Kent Officers Only)“Accredited detectives in divisional detective posts:
The force reserves the right to consider current local resourcing positions and priorities. The force may make the decision to only progress applications from officers in divisional detective posts, if they have completed a minimum of 18 months service following date of accreditation. Applications may also not be progressed where local resourcing requirements do not allow release in an acceptable timeframe. Applicants will be informed as to the progress of their application at the relevant stage(s) of the selection process.”
Norfolk / Suffolk Officers
Norfolk/Suffolk: Before submitting an application, please ensure that this advert has been supported by your line manager and head of department, and that you have read and understood the eligibility criteria - the link for this can be found in the secondments policy on the people directorate page of your home force. If you are unsure, please contact HR Resource Planning on
[email protected].
Cambs Officers
No further authorisation required
Beds Officers
Not open to Beds Officers
Herts Officers
No further authorisation required
Additional Information
All internal/external applicants must have successfully completed their probationary period to apply for this role. An interview will be required for all candidates who pass the paper sift.
As a Disability Confident leader, we take personal responsibility to help create an inclusive workplace, where police officers and staff respect one another, feel valued for their differences and can be themselves. We are committed to providing workplace adjustments, wherever needed so everyone feels welcome and can flourish. If you have a disability and you meet the minimum criteria for the position you are applying for, you will be entitled to an interview under the ‘Offer an Interview Scheme’.
It is recommended that you download and store a copy of the role profile as this will no longer be available once the advert has closed
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For more information on the Competency Values Framework (CVF) please click HERE
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Document
Sergeant - ERSOU Confidential Intelligence Unit.docx – 203KB Opens in a new window
Converted File Sergeant - ERSOU Confidential Intelligence Unit.docx.pdf – 108KB Opens in a new window
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Confi unit shift pattern.xlsx – 12KB Opens in a new window
Converted File Confi unit shift pattern.xlsx.pdf – 19KB Opens in a new window
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Bedfordshire Police recognises the growing use of AI tools in preparing job applications. While these tools can support you in expressing your skills and experience more effectively, their use must align with the principles of honesty, integrity, originality, and personal accountability. We want to learn about you and your own personal experiences and how these make you suitable for the role, this will be assessed throughout the recruitment process including at interview, which AI cannot replace. Please click HERE to find out more about the acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in our recruitment process.
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