Surveillance Officer

Surveillance Officer - Croydon About the job
Job summary
Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it's really like to work at HMRC.
Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.
HMRC is the UK's tax, payments and customs authority and we have a vital purpose: we collect the money that pays for the UK's public services and help families and individuals with targeted financial support.
HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) is responsible for the department's civil and criminal investigations.
FIS provides HMRC with an effective investigation arm to enforce the Department's compliance policies. This enables the Department to deliver against the strategic responsibilities across all the taxes and duties it administers. This includes complex offshore evasion, international smuggling of illicit excise goods, exports of controlled weapons and technology, labour market abuses, VAT and Self-Assessment repayment frauds and a host of other fraud attacks targeted at the tax system.
FIS is home to a wide range of people with a variety of skills and professional backgrounds - including accountants, cybercrime specialists, criminal justice professionals, tax professionals and operational delivery support teams to name but a few. We use a range of powers and approaches to protect funding for UK public services, investigating the most harmful tax cheats and ensuring nobody is beyond our reach.
Covert Operations, Digital Exploitation (CODE) sits within HMRC's wider Fraud Investigation Service (FIS). Working across Law Enforcement and government, CODE provides investigative tools and covert techniques to front-line investigations and works with key partners to develop and provide access to new technology and systems to enable investigators to respond to serious and complex tax evasion and crime.
Job description
Join Our Inclusive Specialist Surveillance Team
At HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive workplace. We recognize that our strength lies in the diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of our employees.
That's why we're seeking talented individuals from all walks of life to join our newly created Specialist Surveillance Team as a Surveillance Officer.
We are striving to build a team that represents the community we serve and strongly encourage applicants from diverse demographics and backgrounds to apply.
The Role
As a Surveillance Officer, you'll play a vital role in supporting HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service (FIS), ensuring an effective approach to tackling complex financial crimes. Your keen observational skills and analytical mindset will be instrumental in gathering crucial evidence and intelligence through covert surveillance operations across the UK.
Person specification
As a Surveillance Officer you will be expected to conduct mobile, foot and static surveillance in pursuit of serious and organised crime investigations led by HMRC. You will gather evidence and intelligence on subjects of investigations to help the Fraud Investigation Service deliver against its strategic and tactical objectives.
Key Responsibilities

• Conduct mobile, foot, and static surveillance operations to support HMRC investigations nationwide.
• Operate surveillance equipment, including radio, photography, audio, and video recording devices.
• Produce detailed surveillance logs, witness statements, and exhibits to document findings.
• Support specialised technical surveillance deployments, working alongside tactical surveillance personnel.
• Collaborate closely with law enforcement agencies, such as the National Crime Agency and Police forces.

Essential Criteria:

• Excellent teamwork, interpersonal, and communication abilities.
• Proven resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Strong observational and analytical capabilities.
• Proficiency in map reading and navigation using Ordnance Survey maps.
• Full UK driving licence, including manual transmission vehicles.
• Experience or transferable skills from diverse professional backgrounds are encouraged.
• Ability to obtain National Security Vetting (SC) clearance.

This role requires security clearance to SC. Any job offer is conditional to the attainment of the security clearance to SC and thus, the security clearance is mandatory. Please be aware that those who do not attain the required security clearance will not be allowed to carry on in this post.
Desirable Criteria:

• Pre-existing mobile surveillance or motorcycle surveillance qualifications are advantageous.
• Experience working in law enforcement, policing, or the armed forces.
• Photography experience.

Training Requirements:
Initial role specific training will include:

• Mandatory online learning.
• Counter Fraud Awareness Training.
• Officer Safety Training.
• A 3-week residential Foot Surveillance course.
• Photography Training.
• A 7-week residential Advanced Police Driving course (for those without pre-existing accreditation).
• A 4-week residential Enhanced Surveillance Techniques course.

Continued employment is contingent on successfully passing the role specific training (some courses are Pass/Fail).
Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST)
Applicants will need to undergo an Occupational Health and Audio Health Surveillance assessment and obtain a Fitness Certificate for PPST and a satisfactory Audiometry Fitness Outcome.
This is a field role and successful applicants, once trained, will be working in the operational field throughout the UK.
Training and Assessment Period
Appointment is also subject to the successful completion of a 12-month Training and Assessment Period (TAP) during which you will be required to complete the role specific training. Those who do not successfully complete the TAP may be required to return to their previous business unit (or department if they are on loan from an OGD). Alternatively, you may be redeployed within FIS. If this is not possible, you may be put in BaU redeployment with help to find a redeployment solution. Applicants who already have already passed the role specific training, will not need to complete a TAP.
Flexibility Payment:
You will initially be eligible for the HMRC Flexibility Payment at Level 1a (FP1a) on Take Up of Duty. On successful completion of the Foot Surveillance course, you will be eligible for (and move to) the Flexibility Payment at Level 2 (FP2).
In applying for a position and accepting the FP you agree that you can and will meet those attendance requirements.
FP levels are reviewed annually - on a business need and personal basis - and may be subject to change.
If you currently receive the Flexibility Payment, which may include Transition Protection and/or a Maintained Pension Value, moving to a new role may affect your payments.
Details of the Flexibility Payment can be found in the attached document.
Integrity Declaration Statement
All applicants will be required to declare any past convictions, criminal findings, or police cautions, regardless of whether they are 'spent'. You must also declare any disciplinary proceedings relating to previous employments. The disclosure of this information will not automatically disbar you from employment with FIS, but we need to be aware of any event or issue which could impinge on your credibility if questioned in court.
FIS may conduct background checks and any offer will be withdrawn if you fail to disclose any relevant material that causes conflict with you being able to complete the duties of the role.
Webinars
Do you want to learn more about this exciting role? Then book to join one of our 60-minute webinars via Microsoft Teams.

• Friday 15 November 12:00 - 13:00
• Monday 18 November 16:00 - 17:00

Please email specifying which session you would like to attend.
We will send you the Microsoft Teams link no later than 24 hours prior to your scheduled session.
We look forward to meeting you
If you are unable to join either of the above sessions, please feel free to discuss these roles and any questions you may have with the vacancy holder before submitting your application.
Further Information:
The role is initially offered on a two-year fixed term appointment with the potential to secure permanent employment with HMRC.
Serving members of HMRC
Serving permanent members of HMRC cannot have more than one job in HMRC if each of these requires a separate HMRC contract of employment.
This means that serving permanent members of HMRC staff who apply for externally advertised FTA vacancies will, if successful, be offered a variation to their existing contract of employment in line with the temporary promotion policy and the employment will be treated as a temporary promotion for the purposes of pay and other terms and conditions.
Serving members of other government departments
Serving permanent members of staff from other Government departments are eligible to apply for externally advertised fixed term appointments. However, these posts are temporary and if successful they must be offered the post as a loan opportunity.
Candidates must live within 2 hours travelling time by car from Gillingham (Kent).
Due to operational needs, these posts are full-time; however, applicants who need to work a more flexible arrangement are welcome to apply. We can't guarantee that we can meet all requests to work flexibly as any agreement will be subject to business ability to accommodate. Any request to work a more flexible arrangement should be made prior to your acceptance of the provisional offer.
Depending on individual circumstances and the requirements of the role we may be able to make reasonable workplace adjustments such as flexible working, adjusting breaks and time to complete tasks, providing alternative office equipment, software etc. A successful applicant would be able to discuss this with their manager.
Appointment is also conditional upon satisfactory conduct, integrity, and discipline checks.
Licences
Hold a full UK driving Licence which must include driving manual transmission vehicles.
Languages
Fluent written and spoken English
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Observational skills and aptitude test, with further details provided with the interview invite.

Benefits
Alongside your salary of £29,475, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £8,538 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.
We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service

• Competitive salary package, including a Level 2 Flexibility Payment for unsocial hours and additional duties.
• Comprehensive training, including advanced driving, surveillance techniques, and counter-fraud awareness.
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth within HMRC.
• Flexible working options, such as remote work and flexible schedules, to support work-life balance.
• Generous Civil Service pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
• An inclusive culture that values diversity, equity, and belonging, with active employee resource groups and community outreach initiatives.

Apply Now

• If you're ready to contribute to HMRC's vital mission and take on a challenging yet rewarding role, we want to hear from you. Submit your CV, along with a Personal Statement (maximum 500 words), outlining how you meet the essential criteria and what you can bring to the role.
• HMRC is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. We embrace diversity and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Our recruitment process is designed to provide equal opportunities for all candidates, and we offer unconscious bias training to our hiring managers.
• Join us and be part of a dedicated team protecting the nation's financial integrity through robust investigative efforts while fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace.

Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
How to Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a name-blind CV and 500-word Personal Statement.

• CV - Please complete the Qualifications, career history and skill/experience sections (Max 250 words per section).
• Personal Statement (maximum 500 words) - Please outline how you meet the essential criteria and what you can bring to the role. Also outline the skills and experience that you have that are relevant to the job and use examples to help demonstrate this. Wherever possible include specific facts and figures that demonstrate the tangible results of your work. Using the Situation, Task, Action, and Results (STAR) model will help achieve a structured response.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
We acknowledge that AI can assist you in your application. Find our guidelines here.
Sift
A sift will be held on the CV and Personal statement with successful applications progressing to interview.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Interview
you will be assessed on Experience, the Behaviours; Working Together and Delivering at Pace as well as Technical Skills which includes an observational skills and aptitude test, with further details provided with the interview invite.
Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Eligibility
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days(Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - 377363 & vacancy closing date 25/11/2024'.
To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.
Linked Vacancies
This vacancy is part of a joint campaign for the same role in other locations. You can apply for any of the linked vacancies and only need to complete the application process once. Your scores will be carried across and you'll be considered for all vacancies you've applied for. Separate merit lists will be created for each vacancy.
You can find all linked vacancies by searching CS Jobs for the keyword: FISSO1
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles - if this applies to you, we'll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Merit List
Please note that this vacancy consists of several linked adverts for the same roles but in different locations.
The references of the linked vacancies are as follows: 377363 and 377411.
If you apply for more than one of the linked adverts above, your interview scores from your first submitted application will be automatically carried across to any other applications you make. This means you will only be invited to attend one interview. After interview, separate merit lists will be created for each advert (i.e. by location) and appointments will be made in strict merit order. If you are successful and accept an offer, all other linked applications will be withdrawn.
Criminal Record Check
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact the UBS Recruitment team via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Additional Security Information
Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:
Please note that this role is unsuitable for contractual homeworkers due to the nature and/or requirements of the role.
Terms and Conditions
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.
Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

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