ERSOU - ROCU - Police Staff PO5 - Head of Operational Intelligence

Force

Bedfordshire Police

HIDDEN - Role Type

Police Staff

Contract Duration

Permanent

Contract Type

Full Time

Department

ERSOU - CTP

Location

Stevenage

Grade

PO5

Salary

£62,940

Please note, if this is a paid role and the role is part time then the salary quoted will be pro rata based on the hours worked per annum.

Hours / Week

37

Closing Date

13/12/2026, 23:55

Applicants are required to meet nationality and residency requirements so that National Security Vetting (NSV) checks can be conducted. If you want to learn more click HERE. To apply for this role, you must also have resided continuously in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years, 2 of which must have been the immediately preceding years from the point of application.

Job Description

THE ROLE

An exciting opportunity has arisen for role of Head of Operational Intelligence within our ROCU Command. Applications are invited from substantive Detective Chief Inspectors and Temporary Chief inspectors with substantive rank taking priority on interview.

Applicants should have sign off from their ACC or Staff Equivalent that their release is supported prior to application.

The role holder will work as part of the ERSOU Senior Leadership Team contributing to achieving the mission, vision and values of the department. To support delivery of the Serious and Organised Crime strategy in the East of England through provision of an effective and professional Intelligence Department.

This position is being advertised as a Staff and Officer Role. There is only one position available. It will be offered to the most suitable candidate from either application pool.

Interested? See the role profile for more details.

ERSOU – Who we are and what we do

ERSOU is funded by the seven police forces that make up the Eastern region, with Bedfordshire Police being the lead force. ERSOU is the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit, that oversees and delivers a regional level response to Serious and Organised Crime, and Counter Terrorism Policing for the Forces in the Eastern Region.

ERSOU is made up of both Officers and Police Staff from across the entire region and works closely with the 7 Forces and National Partners. The departments are unique, in that they offer opportunities to work and develop individuals professionally in specialist areas, often delivering capabilities that are provided by local forces.

Working for ERSOU presents a fantastic opportunity for you to learn and develop within a unique law enforcement community whose staff and officers are dedicated to protecting the public from the threat of terrorism and serious and organised crime.

We are committed to building a leadership team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals who are currently underrepresented at senior levels, including women, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, disabled people, and those from LGBTQ+ communities.

We value the unique perspectives and experience that diverse leadership brings and welcome candidates who can help us drive inclusive policing and community engagement.

ERSOU as an employer can offer.

- Blue light card discounts - Generous pension scheme - Opportunities to get involved with networking groups such as the network of women, LGBTQ+, parent, carers, health, and wellbeing.

VETTING

Applicants must hold or be prepared to undergo Management Vetting (5 years residency criteria), Security Clearance (5 years residency criteria) Due to the sensitive nature of these checks, we are not able to supply feedback should clearance be declined.

This post is designated as ‘reserved post’ under the Civil Service Nationality Rules and is open only to UK Nationals. Anyone holding dual nationality can make an application but may be required to relinquish non-British nationality if successful (and any entitlement you may have to a foreign nationality) as a condition of your confirmation of appointment with CTP. When applying please click Yes to the British Nationality Question in order to progress to the next step of the application process. One of your parents should also be British or have substantial ties to the UK. In the latter instance, substantial ties means that your parent is a citizen of a British Overseas Territory, a Commonwealth citizen, US citizen, EEA citizen, British national or citizen overseas, and they would need to have demonstrable connections with the UK by way of family history or have been resident here for a substantial period of time.

If you’re already married to, or cohabiting with, a person who isn’t a British citizen, you may still be eligible for employment at the discretion of the department. You should note however, that marriage to, or cohabitation with, a person who isn’t a British citizen after appointment may, in some circumstances, result in the withdrawal of security clearance and subsequent transfer to another department, or (if this is not possible or the officer does not wish to transfer) dismissal. Each case will be considered on its merits, taking into account the ties between the person involved and the United Kingdom.

For Further information

Email us at ASK.ERSOU@beds.police.uk , emails will be forwarded on to the relevant recruiting manager and we will endeavour to reply within 3 working days.

Additional Information

All internal applicants must have successfully completed their probationary period to apply for this role.

Internal applicants within Bedfordshire Police, Cambridgeshire Constabulary or Hertfordshire Constabulary (BCH), should upload either a CV or provide relevant skills, experiences and qualifications on Word/PDF document.

This vacancy is live to those at risk of redundancy and will remain open to redeployees until the conditional offer stage throughout the recruitment process. Redeployees will take priority over other applicants at any point during the recruitment process up until conditional offer. If a redeployee is successful and accepts an offer, they will remain on their home force’s terms and conditions.

As a Disability Confident leader, we take personal responsibility to help create an inclusive workplace, where police officers and staff respect one another, feel valued for their differences and can be themselves. We are committed to providing workplace adjustments, wherever needed so everyone feels welcome and can flourish. If you have a disability and you meet the minimum criteria for the position you are applying for, you will be entitled to an interview under the ‘Offer an Interview Scheme’.

It is recommended that you download and store a copy of the role profile as this will no longer be available once the advert has closed.

For more information on the Competency Values Framework (CVF) please click HERE

Help us deliver outstanding policing for everyone.

We believe that to serve our communities effectively, we need people from all backgrounds, bringing a wide range of life and professional experiences. This helps us reflect the communities we serve and ensures we deliver the best possible service.

Why Choose a Career in Policing?

Bedfordshire Police is recognised as a pioneering and forward-thinking service, responsible for policing a large, diverse, and multicultural population.

If you're looking for a meaningful and rewarding career—where you can make a real difference, take on new challenges, and gain a wide variety of experiences—then we want to hear from you.

What We Offer

We’re proud to support our people with a comprehensive benefits package, including:

- Pension Schemes : Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, with employer contributions and death-in-service benefits. - Generous Annual Leave : 24 to 33 days (depending on rank and length of service). - Sick Pay : Up to six months full pay and six months half pay (depending on service). - Family Leave : Occupational maternity, adoption, and paternity pay (depending on service). - Carers and Discretionary Leave - Flexible Working : Including compressed hours, flexible shifts, job sharing, annualised hours, and agile working (role dependent). - Wellbeing Support : Local wellbeing teams, on-site gym facilities and exercise classes (location dependent). - Sports & Social Clubs : Enjoy discounts, trips, and events through our dedicated clubs. - Cycle to Work Scheme - Blue Light Card App : Option to sign up for discounts in-store and online for emergency service workers. - Financial Support : Access to Police Mutual for savings plans, insurance, loans, and independent financial advice. - Employee Assistance Programme : Confidential support for personal and professional wellbeing. - Staff Support Networks : Including groups for Black and Minority Ethnic colleagues, LGBTQ+ colleagues, disability awareness, menopause support, faith-based groups, and more. - Trade Union Membership : Access to UNISON. - Career Development : Opportunities for progression, promotion, and leadership training.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to building a workforce that is inclusive and truly representative of the communities we serve. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, especially those currently under-represented in policing, including:

- Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities - People of all ages and abilities - All faiths and religions - LGBTQ+ communities - Individuals from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds

All applications are assessed fairly and based on the evidence you provide and your suitability for the role.

Disability Confident Logo

Recruitment and Selection Policy

Internal applicants who are at risk of redundancy or in need of redeployment and pass the selection process, will be offered the role over the remaining internal and external applicants.

Police Barred and Advisory Lists

Individuals placed on the Police Barred and Advisory lists will not be considered for employment by the police for a minimum of 5 years from the date of listing in the case of gross misconduct, or 3 years from the date of listing in the case of poor performance.

Vetting and Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and operate safer recruitment processes, to ensure a police service that employees are proud to work for because they feel safe, valued and part of a happy and supportive work environment. All employees and volunteers therefore will be subject to background checks including vetting and references.

Bedfordshire Police recognises the growing use of AI tools in preparing job applications. While these tools can support you in expressing your skills and experience more effectively, their use must align with the principles of honesty, integrity, originality, and personal accountability. We want to learn about you and your own personal experiences and how these make you suitable for the role, this will be assessed throughout the recruitment process including at interview, which AI cannot replace. Please click HERE to find out more about the acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in our recruitment process.