Digital Forensics Gatekeeper
Job Description
P rospective officers and staff must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members of the public, and that therefore their right to privacy can be fettered in certain circumstances. This is to ensure that members of the police are fully aware and accountable for the unique powers entrusted to them and the standards of professional behaviour they swear to uphold.
Digital Forensics Gatekeeper
To provide administrative assistance to the WMP Digital Forensics Unit relating to the submission process of all mobile phones, computers and other digital devices that have been, or are suspected of being used in the commission of crime; including those devices belonging to victims and or witnesses of crime. To satisfactorily communicate verbal or written submission authorisations to FIRST (Forensic Investigation Resource and Submission Team), including to investigating officers of all rank and file. To provide telephone support, advice and guidance where and when required and to maintain security, confidentiality, continuity and integrity of all exhibits at all times.
Key Responsibilities
Knowledge and Experience:
Essential
The post holder will be required to work a shift pattern that incorporates working weekends, bank holidays and from time to time outside of core shift hours. Core hours 7am to 10pm
Vetting
Successful applicants will be required to pass Management Vetting and Security Clearance scrutiny prior to commencing their role, this will include a full background & financial disclosure as part of the vetting process.
West Midlands Police is 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.
"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"
About Us
West Midlands Police is the second-largest police force in the country, serving the three major cities of Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton, alongside the districts of Sandwell, Walsall, Solihull, and Dudley.
Against this backdrop, the force handles more than 2,000 emergency calls every day, while patrolling the streets and responding to incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have made significant improvements in reducing overall crime, improving call response times, and increasing arrest rates. This work can only continue with the right people, therefore as an employer of choice, we are looking for the right people who can serve and protect our communities.
P rospective officers and staff must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members of the public, and that therefore their right to privacy can be fettered in certain circumstances. This is to ensure that members of the police are fully aware and accountable for the unique powers entrusted to them and the standards of professional behaviour they swear to uphold.
Digital Forensics Gatekeeper
To provide administrative assistance to the WMP Digital Forensics Unit relating to the submission process of all mobile phones, computers and other digital devices that have been, or are suspected of being used in the commission of crime; including those devices belonging to victims and or witnesses of crime. To satisfactorily communicate verbal or written submission authorisations to FIRST (Forensic Investigation Resource and Submission Team), including to investigating officers of all rank and file. To provide telephone support, advice and guidance where and when required and to maintain security, confidentiality, continuity and integrity of all exhibits at all times.
Key Responsibilities
- Process all digital submissions submitted to the WMP Digital Forensics Unit.
- Review all submission forms with honesty, integrity, objectivity and impartiality, some of which may contain descriptions that are graphic or gruesome in nature.
- Document and manage all exhibits that come into or out of WMP Digital Forensics Unit to ensure continuity, confidentiality and security.
- Use relevant ICT Systems to the role e.g. Socrates, CONNECT and Email.
- Play an active role in the Day to Day service requests of Digital Forensics.
- Be a SPOC (Point of Contact) for Investigation Officers who are utilising the services of Digital Forensics.
- To provide appropriate information, advice and guidance to Investigating Officers.
- To understand and follow Digital Forensics good practice methodologies (ISO 17025, 17020 and ACPO Principles).
- Finalise and process all exhibits and associated paperwork for their return to detained property stores/OIC.
- To carry out any other duties commensurate with the purpose of that role that may, from time to time, be determined.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team alongside Digital Forensic Examiners (this will include Police Officers, Police Staff and Team Leaders).
- Possess good communication skills (both verbal and written).
- Be enthusiastic, hardworking, flexible and have a desire to learn new skills in a unique technical area of business.
- Be conversant with all relevant Force ICT Systems essential to the role such as Intranet, Email, CONNECT, Phone System, MFD Printers, NCALT, Smartcard – List not exhaustive. (Training on other DF specific systems such as Socrates, VERSE, GTG Digital Investigations App and Prism will be provided to the successful candidate upon starting – knowledge of these systems is however desirable, but not essential).
- To have awareness and understanding of Digital Forensics good practice methodologies (ISO 17025, ACPO Principles).
- To understand that, and be able to work within, an environment where material of an obscene, offensive or distressing nature may be present at any given time.
- An understanding of the different types of mobile phones, computers and other digital storage media available on the common market and how to identify or differentiate between them.
- An understanding of protracted Forensics extractions and examinations and what impact this timeliness has on different investigations.
- An understanding of various other solutions available to investigating officers for submissions that fail to meet the minimum threshold for examination (NTAC, SSK, DMI, CycComms).
- An understanding of a DPN (Digital Processing Notice), what they are used for, the criteria for their use, the importance of the information contained within them and how an examination may be affected by that content.
Essential
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team of Digital Forensic examiners;
- Possess good communication skills (both verbal and written);
- Be enthusiastic, hardworking and flexible;
- Must have full UK driving license
The post holder will be required to work a shift pattern that incorporates working weekends, bank holidays and from time to time outside of core shift hours. Core hours 7am to 10pm
Vetting
Successful applicants will be required to pass Management Vetting and Security Clearance scrutiny prior to commencing their role, this will include a full background & financial disclosure as part of the vetting process.
West Midlands Police is 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.
"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"
About Us
West Midlands Police is the second-largest police force in the country, serving the three major cities of Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton, alongside the districts of Sandwell, Walsall, Solihull, and Dudley.
Against this backdrop, the force handles more than 2,000 emergency calls every day, while patrolling the streets and responding to incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have made significant improvements in reducing overall crime, improving call response times, and increasing arrest rates. This work can only continue with the right people, therefore as an employer of choice, we are looking for the right people who can serve and protect our communities.