Only open to Police Officers from Warwickshire, West Mercia and Staffordshire Police. 

We are looking for highly motivated, dynamic and enthusiastic substantive constables and sergeants to join our Surveillance Academy to train as surveillance officers in this challenging yet rewarding role working in an excellent team environment. 

The Academy is the regional approach to recruitment into three thematic areas; the Regional Organised Crime Unit, Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands and West Midlands - Force Surveillance (County Lines). 

Our surveillance capability involves a collaboration of police forces across the West Midlands, working with the UK intelligence community to help protect the public and our national security by deterring, disrupting and thwarting criminal activity. Our officers and staff are at the forefront of the UK’s work to confront crime, operating around the clock to provide tactical support to proactive and reactive counter-terrorism and serious and organised crime operations. We also deliver a West Midlands specific response to support Major Crime and County Lines intelligence led investigations. 

Your skills could help protect the UK. With the ongoing terrorist and organised crime threats, there has never been a more important time to be working alongside some of the best and brightest to help keep people safe.

Here is your opportunity to be a part of the vibrant, diverse specialist teams who fight organised crime and terrorism across our region.

Our aim is to become as diverse as possible and to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome all applications from across the region.

The role

The job of a Surveillance Officer is like no other. Every day offers a variety of exciting challenges and exceptional opportunities played out on a regional, national and international stage.

You will work to become part of a dedicated team utilising the latest surveillance techniques to help tackle terrorism and the most serious crime working alongside key partner agencies. You will undertake a demanding training programme during which you'll receive personalised guidance and support at all stages from an allocated mentor and the surveillance training unit.

As a surveillance officer targeting those who pose the greatest threat and risk, you will need to display the highest levels of integrity, personal commitment and flexibility. 

This is a unique and rewarding opportunity to grow professionally while collaborating with a talented group of individuals delivering for communities affected by the most serious criminality.  We will offer you an extensive and enriching learning and development package, which you'll be actively encouraged to pursue.

Selection process

You will need to successfully complete each of the following within the academy process:

• Compulsory attendance at a surveillance academy awareness session prior to applying. Sessions can be booked here:  https://www.rocuwm.info/news/surveillance-academy-awareness-sessions
• Application process (registering your interest - select “Apply” top-right)
• Attach current proof of hearing, eyesight and fitness tests
• Attend Regional Selection Process (RSP) – exercises designed to test your aptitude for surveillance across two days. To include a career chat for PC applicants. 
• Attend National Surveillance Selection Process (NSSP) - exercises designed to test your map reading, attention to detail and observation skills
• CVF based interview - Sergeants only
• Management (MV) and Security Check (SC) vetting
• Standard driver training (3 weeks) and advanced driver training (4 weeks)
• Surveillance field training
• College of policing national surveillance course (5 weeks - residential if required)

Following your College of Policing 5-week surveillance course you will need to complete a surveillance portfolio and training program, within 12 months of starting your posting, evidencing you have achieved competence within the role.

West Midlands applicants can be posted to any of the surveillance functions forming part of the Academy, subject to vacancies and operational need. For all other forces, successful candidates will be posted within the Regional Organised Crime Unit

Additional Information

To remain operationally effective it is essential that the profile of the team reflects the communities within which we work and an ability to blend in with our communities is essential.

We’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion to enable us to provide the best possible service to the communities across the region. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from colleagues with diverse backgrounds as we are currently under represented in this area.

You must be a British citizen to work for CTU. If you hold dual nationality, with the primary nationality British, you may also be considered. For the purposes of safeguarding national security, applicants will be required to hold or acquire the appropriate national security vetting clearances of Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) in line with Cabinet Office Policy, supported by Section 82(2) to (4) of the Police Reform Act (2002). We  will support preferred candidates through the appropriate vetting process.

Due to the nature of the role, unsocial working hours, travel across the region and shift changes at short notice are possible.

To provide force resilience as and when required to threats to life and crime in action incidents all officers must be prepared take an equal part in the on-call Rota on weekdays, weekends and public holidays.

Diversity and Inclusion Vision: “Maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities, whilst protecting them from harm”

We are a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions.  As part of our commitment we operate a "Disability Confident Interview Scheme" - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.

It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job.  For example, in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.  In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non-disabled applicants.

Please do not attach a CV/covering letter as these will not be used during the application process

Counter Terrorism Policing is a collaboration of UK police forces working with the UK intelligence community to help protect the public and our national security by preventing, deterring and investigating terrorist activity.

Join Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands CTU for a unique opportunity to play your part in keeping the West Midlands region safe. Every day offers a variety of exciting challenges and exceptional opportunities played out on a national and international stage.

Most of what we achieve may never see the light of day but be assured that we have the very best and brightest working around the clock in an effort to keep us all safe. These ordinary men and women do extraordinary things in an effort to thwart terrorist planning; to safeguard those who are at risk of radicalisation; to protect our critical national infrastructure, institutions and crowded places, and to pursue and bring terrorists to justice.

Our Counter Terrorism Unit aims to create an inclusive and welcoming environment where all our people feel a strong sense of belonging and are able to reach their full potential. With a range of roles available, you don’t need a background in security and we are always looking for different skills and experiences to join our talented team.

Work with us and you will be joining a world-class Counter Terrorism Policing network.