Environmental Crime Officer

**Environmental Crime Officer**

**£33,000**

**Preston/Hybrid**

**Staff Grade: 4**

**Permanent, Full Time**

**About us**

The Environment Agency has a broad and varied remit regulating everything from waste management sites to farms and other land management activities across a range of urban and rural sites, all of which may impact on the local environment. We are constantly evolving the way we work. We have seen an increase in the volumes of investigations that can be complex, varied in nature, and often involve Organised Crime Groups, illegal waste exports and large-scale fraud and we are continually improving how we work to tackle this.

Our goal is to create a cleaner, safer and healthier environment, drive better performance and use our resources more effectively to protect our environment. And critically to prosecute those that stray beyond the law.

**The team**

Our National Investigations Team is part of our wider National Enforcement Service. We work investigating the most serious and complex environmental crimes occurring across the Country and sometimes far beyond. We work alongside our Major Incident Room (MIR), illegal Waste Exports Team, Financial Investigations Team and Partner Organisations to help ensure we obtain the maximum impact possible on those committing serious environmental crimes and ensure that offenders are brought to justice.

**What will you do**

As an Environmental Crime Officer within the National Investigations Team, you’ll work alongside the MIR and Investigation Managers undertaking investigative enquiries such as interviews, surveillance operations, evidence gathering and obtaining statements. You’ll often be working on a variety of different cases at any one time, working independently and alongside colleagues building robust cases to help us deliver solid prosecution cases and bring serious offenders to justice.

This role provides an exciting opportunity for anyone with relevant investigative experience to take their skills and knowledge into the arena of serious environmental crime.

**What you’ll need**

**Essential**

Whilst this is a hybrid working role, a mix of home and office and whilst you can be based in any one of the Environment Offices across the country, you will be required to attend the main office in central Birmingham regularly. There will also be additional travel requirements across the country which may include an overnight stay including courses, training and primarily for operational duties. **You will need a full UK driving license and a minimum of 3 years' experience working in investigations.**

You will need previous experience of working within a team investigating serious crime and a good knowledge of legislation such as PACE / CPIA. Experience of working on Major Investigations and familiarity with HOLMES / Major Incident Room processes & procedures would be beneficial but not essential.

Self-motivated, flexible and with an eye for detail, you’ll demonstrate innovative thinking, be resourceful and just sometimes a flash of your inspiration can provide that missing piece to an investigative puzzle. You’ll also need to have Maths and English GCSE or equivalent, have basic IT skills (Word, Excel and Teams) and some knowledge of environmental crime.

In addition, we would also like you to have:

- Knowledge & experience of how to write and take statements
- Experience with interviewing witnesses and suspects and producing and managing exhibits
- Experience producing material for disclosure and giving evidence in Court
- Experience of building strong collaborative working partnerships both internally and
- Strong written and verbal communication skills

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract additional payment and full training, and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role. As well as on-going training, you will also be supported with appropriate equipment and clothing to ensure you remain safe.

The most important thing we are looking for is a passion for environmental improvement and resilience to succeed.

**What’s in it for you**:
You’ll benefit from a culture that embraces difference and is inclusive where you’ll feel supported and trusted to do the right thing. We’ll invest in you and allow you to grow and shape your career. What’s more, you’ll have access to our great benefits package including:

- A salary up to £33,000
- A generous pension scheme.
- Overtime opportunities through standby and incident pay.
- 25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays for full-time employees.
- Two additional days for paid environmental outcomes giving you the opportunity to take part in community activities.
- Great career opportunities.
- Maternity, paternity, and adoption leave scheme.

Options for flexible and / or