Intelligence Officer

Full Vacancy Description

We are looking for an intelligence officer to join the Central England Trading Standards Authorities (CEnTSA) Intelligence Unit based at Warwickshire Trading Standards supporting the Regional Intelligence Analyst and the 14 local authority trading standards services in the CEnTSA region.

The role will be for twelve months

Closing date:  22 June 2018 interview date 6 July

As the Regional Intelligence Officer, your role will be to provide responsive, efficient and effective intelligence, research and administrative support to the Regional Intelligence Function and to support the Regional Intelligence Analyst (RIA). This will include collating and researching a wide range of data from open and closed sources in order to create a range of intelligence products to help to identify priorities and find solutions to trading standards issues in the priority areas. The priority areas are currently identified as:  

Doorstep crime/scams/rogue trading

Safety of the food chain

Product Safety

Used vehicle crime

Illegal tobacco

The post holder will also promote and champion the use of an intelligence-led approach to managers and enforcement officers across the region to enable them to address regional priorities and to ensure that resources are used effectively.

The post holder will have a good working knowledge of the National Intelligence Model (NIM) and/or the trading standards specific Intelligence Operating Model (IOM) and the creation and sanitisation of Intelligence logs on an Intelligence Report (IR). The post holder will also have good IT skills and the ability to collate data, analyse data and create graphical representations of data.

Job Description

Role Purpose

To provide responsive, efficient and effective intelligence, research and administrative support to the Regional Intelligence Function and to support the Regional Intelligence Analyst (RIA).

To collate and research data from a wide range of relevant sources in order to create a range of intelligence products as required and to assist with the implementation of policies and strategies to ensure resources are utilised effectively and priorities are met across the CEnTSA region.

The post holder will require research and IT abilities in order to collate data from a wide range of sources and will be required to develop intelligence/research products.

Role Responsibilities

The post holder will be expected to carry out the following duties:

1)         Produce high quality products, including subject profiles, problem profiles, sector profiles. This will include utilising a broad range of quantitative and qualitative data sources whilst producing reports and making considered recommendations to help further investigations in line with the Intelligence Operating Model. 

2) Research data including its significance, reliability and validity to assist in identifying trends on a short, medium and long term basis. Produce information, statistics and intelligence packages as required to support the RIA and to support decision making by the Regional Tasking Group and local authority trading standards officers in their operational work.

3) Assist with the Production of the Tactical Assessment documents through providing support to the RIA or independently when required. This will include: sourcing information and researching topics, identifying information contained in intelligence databases, collating update reports from local authorities across the region and other activities as required. This will include the use of the Citizens Advice Consumer Service database.

4) Provide courteous and effective communication, both written and oral including receiving telephone calls, offering appropriate advice to officers whilst inputting and grading intelligence logs on what data can be retrieved from different sources and what information can legally be disclosed to third parties. This will include promoting the use of intelligence to various operational and senior level Trading Standards staff within various meetings.

5) Produce audits using various internal databases, including recommendations on how systems and process improvements can be made to implement and enhance intelligence-led methods of working.

6) Provide assistance (either to the RIA or to any other designated Lead Officer) on often complex regional and national intelligence projects/investigations through the collection of primary/secondary data and intelligence.

7) Create and sanitise intelligence logs onto the intelligence database in accordance with the required minimum standard as outlined within the Intelligence Operating Model.

8) Provide feedback on the usage of the different intelligence databases and make recommendations for areas of improvement and contribute to the maintenance of existing databases. This will include identifying barriers to efficiency and the streamlining of information and intelligence handling.

9) Deliver detailed intelligence database training to groups of Trading Standards / other local authority officers and on a one-to-one basis.  

10) Create instruction manuals for various databases (such as Experian) and handle all technical database queries from local officers.

11) Assist the RIA with intelligence training delivered to enforcement officers and provide proactive contributions / lead discussions within the various meetings in order to illustrate the benefits of an intelligence-led approach and best practice to be implemented in order to reap the most gains.

12) Assist in the implementation of the requirements of the National Trading Standards Service Intelligence Operating Model and maintain close liaison with local, regional and national intelligence networks to enable links to be made to regional and/or national criminal activity.

13) Liaise with partner agencies including local authorities and other enforcement bodies.

14) To act as secretary at Regional Intelligence Group meetings including taking minutes and the production of minutes/actions and general administration and communication support.

15) Conduct routine Police National Computer checks following authorised requests in line with the required protocol once adequately trained and authorised to do so.

16) Conduct eBay enquiries following authorised requests in line with the required protocol.

17) Conduct routine Data Protection enquiries following authorised requests to stakeholders and other partners, in line with the required protocol and legislation.

18) Monitor the regional intelligence email inbox and action enquiries as appropriate.

19) Conduct Intelligence database checks following authorised requests, in line with the required protocol.          

20) Respond to telephone enquiries from officers and provide advice on intelligence logs.

21) Deputise for the RIA as and when required.

22) Travel to regional and national meetings as required.

23) To undertake any other duties as required which are commensurate with the grading of the post.

24) This post has been designated as requiring successful vetting by Warwickshire Police. It is therefore essential that you are willing to complete a Non Police Personnel Vetting Check if offered the post. 

Person Specification

Essential

Educated to A Level standard plus GCSEs grades A-C required in English & Maths and have relevant experience in data analysis/data management or as an Intelligence Professional.           

Specialist knowledge of intelligence principles, including good knowledge of the production and sanitisation of 5x5x5s, government protective marking scheme, and the National Intelligence Model / Intelligence Operating Model.      

Demonstrate good verbal / written communication skills with the ability to respond confidently and succinctly, including the proven ability to produce clear, concise written reports, reducing mass data to an understandable form, using appropriate vocabulary for a range of target audiences. 

Proven ability to conduct research using open and closed sources/extract and interpret complex data to produce intelligence packages in an understandable form.

Proven ability to work independently on own initiative, prioritise own workload in order to meet deadlines and conflicting priorities.   

Ability to respond to telephone and email enquiries from customers as appropriate, in line with service standards.    

Ability to illustrate personal accountability and work under pressure           

Experience of working in an environment where personal integrity, confidentiality and data security are paramount.   

Sound administrative and clerical skills, including writing emails, letters and reports, record keeping and collection and collation of information for research purposes.          

High level of competence in the use of IT (including MS Office, databases, online resources) / competent in the use of spreadsheets (preferably Excel), databases and word processing.       

Ability to work effectively as part of a team.        

Working knowledge of intelligence operating models 

Demonstrate the willingness to learn and develop knowledge of Intelligence.      

Willing to work flexibly in response to demands of the job and to travel to other work locations as/when required.       

This post has been designated as requiring successful vetting by Warwickshire Police. It is therefore essential that you are willing to complete a Non Police Personnel Vetting Check if offered the post.   

Desirable Criteria  

Experience of using PNC.            

Experience of training staff.          

Working knowledge of the information available to Trading Standards Officers using statutory powers and RIPA.