Police Staff Jobs

pastiesupper

Some of you mentioned that you were interested in police staff jobs - see below link from PSNI Facebook page......

http://www.facebook.com/PoliceServiceNI

Career news: We are currently recruiting for Fingerprint Officers and a Website & Digital Communication Officer. Check the support team website for more information.



The Support Team

http://thesupportteam.erecruit.co.uk

Wonderful

Does anyone know what course/qualification you have to do in Northern Ireland to become eligible to apply for a Fingerprint Officer? Thanks.

gigity gigity

Wonderful wrote: »

Does anyone know what course/qualification you have to do in Northern Ireland to become eligible to apply for a Fingerprint Officer? Thanks.

Unless you have three years experience you cant get the job, check out the belfast telegraph today or the sunday life to see the advert, will more then likely be in the irish news as well

Goonerdee

One of the jobs is looking for experience in a customer facing role, I have worked in the same place since I left college and have never had a customer facing role, how important do you reckon that part is?

I might just apply for it anyway, it's not like they'll shoot me.........hopefully!:D:o

Shield

I suppose it would depend on which one it is and how important customer facing experience would be to the role.

Goonerdee

Shield wrote: »

I suppose it would depend on which one it is and how important customer facing experience would be to the role.

Well I've read the description and it appears the main role is to provide assistance to a department, it doesn't sound too customer facing.

pastiesupper

There are a few more roles just added: Assistant Investigator, Administrative Support Officer (ASO) and Forensic Accountant.

rookie_boarder

pastiesupper wrote: »

There are a few more roles just added: Assistant Investigator, Administrative Support Officer (ASO) and Forensic Accountant.

assistant investigator...i would think you would need to be in the police for this role, read the criteria, sure some people not in the police could have the skills, what i'm saying...is this not a type of detective role...?

Shield

Reminder:

For those of you who have already, or will be applying for any PSNI civilian role, please bear in mind that the threat from dissidents extends to civilian staff as well as officers. With that in mind, I would advise that you only discuss your application with those who need to know what you're doing. You must be mindful of your personal security from the moment you apply, so for your own good, keep the number of people you tell to an absolute minimum.

Having said that, I wish anyone who has applied the best of luck with your application.

I'll be putting in for the ASO one anyways, it's finally one that doesn't require any strange and unusual experience or qualifications Sure it may be basically an office job and nowhere near the ultimate goal that is wearing the green...but I'd be pretty happy I reckon! Disappointed to see there's no interview involved once again though, talking the talk is what I do best :rolleyes:

Assistant investigator would be pretty cool though!

Delancey

Perish the thought that I sound in any way cynical , however I can't help but feel that Assistant Investigator role is designed to be one that only ex Police Officers can realistically apply for.
The job spec states that experience of criminal investigation is required - well where is a ' civilian ' supposed to have gained this experience ?

This really sounds like a ' jobs for the boys ' exercise , it would be most illuminating for someone to submit an FOI request in 6 or 8 months time to enquire what % of these positions went to former Police Officers.

Like I said , forgive my apparent cynicism :rolleyes:

Shield

Delancey wrote: »

Perish the thought that I sound in any way cynical , however I can't help but feel that Assistant Investigator role is designed to be one that only ex Police Officers can realistically apply for.
The job spec states that experience of criminal investigation is required - well where is a ' civilian ' supposed to have gained this experience ?

This really sounds like a ' jobs for the boys ' exercise , it would be most illuminating for someone to submit an FOI request in 6 or 8 months time to enquire what % of these positions went to former Police Officers.

Like I said , forgive my apparent cynicism :rolleyes:

To make things even more interesting, in your FOI request, why not ask how many successful applicants are ex-FTR. The smart people out there will realise exactly what this job is.

If you need a little help, think about there not being any campaign this year and possibly next. Now have a look at the 12 weeks training in Garnerville, followed by driving, personal safety, first ai... wait a minute!

*clink*

I think I just heard a penny drop in many heads.

Delancey

Not to mention of course the fact that as former Police officers ( regular or FTR ) they are permitted to carry a PPW - thus neatly overcoming the Policing Boards resistance to the Chief Constables idea of armed ' civilian ' roles - brilliant !

gigity gigity

No likey no lighty! 'stealth' recruitment as its previously been described as, grinds my gears. Forget about the politics and just say we need more officers (you could still make a few intakes using 5050 of course from the list thats at the bottom of your drawer)

life_of_west

has anyone had a reply from any of the positions they applied for yet?

gigity gigity

I am such a tool, I thought the closing date for applications was the 18th not the 8th. doh

kitchensink

Haven't heard a thing. I would imagine that they were inundated with applications.

Had my app for the ASO pretty much all done, left it for a bit, forgot all about it for a while, remembered about it again the day after the closing date :rolleyes: Aw shucks...ah well I'd imagine there would be a fierce amount in for it so probably nothing lost in the end!

Delancey

I'd be interested to hear about those who applied for the Investigator role and were not from an FTR background.

Shield

Delancey wrote: »

I'd be interested to hear about those who applied for the Investigator role and were not from an FTR background.

Don't hold your breath! Look at the spec. I personally believe they were deliberately specced for either those who either took Patten or are ex-FTR.

Delancey

Absolutely agree . Requiring applicants to have experience of criminal investigations at a stroke rules out anyone not ex-Police , I would be interested though to learn if those without the required background even get to assessment stage or will they be ' screened out ' ?
In due course an FOI request will confirm if our suspicions are well-founded or not.

Mind you , I have heard that some FTR have never even taken a statement in their careers.

kitchensink

I applied for the assistant investigator role and I don't have any policing experience. I work as a civilian investigator carrying out criminal investigations for a non policing agency. If I ddn't get short listed, be assured that I will be asking questions.

Delancey

Given that you have criminal investigation experience kitchensink ( something very few civilians would have ) then you may well be in with a shot . The fact that ex-Police are permitted to carry a PPW may prove significant in the scheme of things.
I remain convinced the vast majority appointed to the role will be ex-Police but I wish you the very best of luck with your application.

kitchensink

Cheers, I will keep you's informed in my progress.

I do agree with your view that it seems to be jobs for the boys but then again would they want to spend the money training ex police who may only do the job for a few years.

Time will only tell.

Delancey

I heard today of someone with a non-Police investigative background who applied to the investigator role , they got ' Dear John'd ' without being invited for any tests , assessment or interview :rolleyes:.

kitchensink

I got a letter stating that the short listing won't be completed until mid August.

Delancey

kitchensink wrote: »

I got a letter stating that the short listing won't be completed until mid August.

Good , still hope for you then.

siv4444

I too received a letter saying currently shortlisting and would hear by mid august. Im from a non police background.
If someone has already got a 'Dear John' would that imply they have done a 1st round of short listing?

sydnor

I also got a letter about shortlisting a few days ago.

Delancey

In the case of the applicant I am aware of he also got the shortlisting letter ( which made mention of a very large volume of applications I understand ) followed a few days later by a Dear John - hang in there I say !

kitchensink

Delancey wrote: »

In the case of the applicant I am aware of he also got the shortlisting letter ( which made mention of a very large volume of applications I understand ) followed a few days later by a Dear John - hang in there I say !

Still haven't heard anything. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing. What about anyone else?

siv4444

No news either, however id say itl be pretty close to the date they stated in letter!! We're still in the running until told otherwise!!

4n6

Hello Folks

Just my two cent's worth:

Interesting read and comments about the assistant investigator PSNI roles.

It made it clear on the PSNI website that "they were looking for RC, Women etc., as these were under-represented within the PSNI community......" It is clear and unequivocal intent that they according to their own standards need to show fairness and impartiality to attract people from all walks of life with suitable qualifications and experience to match the position.

I hope this is the case and that fairness and equity might be gallant winners here!

According to the specification the "essential" and "desirable" AI profile will be taken into consideration. When there are large numbers of applications then the "desirable" criteria will be used instead. "Experience of criminal investigations" is challenging to the non-police candidates and it will be interesting to see under the FOI the number of ex-police that secure these positions. I can only hope that they are going to select from a large pool of candidates using their own adherence to their policies for selection and that it remains fair and transparent.

I received the confirmation letter of "completed application form" from Grafton Recruitment. They state that short-listing is currently being completed and that we will be informed by Friday 19th August 2011.

After this the selection process includes testing, details of assessment to those lucky enough to meet the short-listing criteria.

The next phase will be quick and could be the following week which could include testing:

1. Listening to instruction, taking notes and using those notes to evaluate information.
2. Understand and accurately interpreting written material.
3. Interpreting and utilising verbal and numerical data.

This is what was used for the PSNI Police Trainee Recruitment Initial Selection Test back in 2007 and it is only a guess that they will use the same process to whittle down desirable candidates into a pool of potential candidates that could go forward to the assessment stage.

This is merely my opinion and advice would be to get some practise on the aptitude tests to score as high as you can to get the best position you can in your test scores. But we will be given full details by the 19th only to those short-listed.

Personally, I am hoping to at least get to the testing stage and would like to be called by 19th August for test. I have experience and education that reflects the AI position and would be extremely disappointed if I did not get a fair chance to go for it.

Will let you know folks either way, and the very best of luck!

Regards

4N6

siv4444

Hi 4N6,welcome to the thread:-)
I am educated to degree level in a social science subject - a large part which was made up of conducting research both qualitative and quantitive. I had to submit several projects which involved conducting interviews and writing up my findings. (These related to criminology and therefore, like you, I believe this credits my application to the next level).
It will be interesting to see our outcome by the end of the week - are they merely sifting through the applications now in order to establish the ex-police? (Hopefully not!)
My boyfriend is a police officer - he is of the opinion I won't get to the next stage as he believes (his opinion) there will be a massive application from ex-police who have gone out under patton etc - they will have the experience to make it to desirable criteria and he believes the campaign is aimed towards them. (Many still carry their fire-arm and this will cover them for the safety aspect too).
Good luck and hopefully by the weekend the synics will be proved wrong!!

Delancey

If you think of the Investigator role as a ' Para-Police ' position then you will see the ability of an investigator to carry a PPW may prove crucial - due to the current security situation the idea of unarmed people in this job is difficult ( for me at any rate ) to imagine .
The abolition of the FTR was a political decision that was included in the Patten Report , had the decision been left to the PSNI I believe the FTR would still be here - these investigator roles are , in my opinion , a mechanism to retain them albeit under a different name.
Having said all that I wish everyone who has applied the best of luck.

siv4444

Delancey - you have worded better in your second paragraph what i was trying to state as the views of my boyfriend :-)
I am expecting the 'Dear John'........however i will live in hope until told otherwise!!

4n6

Hello Folks

FYI - Alternative Options Worth Thinking About:

NPIA re: Assistant Crime Analyst & Crime Analyst Role UK

UK Jill Dando Institute Courses

What previous students have done with their degrees and working for MET


Folks this is just food for thought, it is something that requires lots of patience, perseverance and an alternative option for all us would be Assistant Crime Analysts. It is tough waiting for positions to open up but I believe we must be optimistic and there are many positions further afield re: Australia, USA.

Getting away, getting experience and working in an area that you love is important personal satisfaction that transcends across the board........and may give you better options when returning home and applying for these highly sought after careers.

If I get any other information will share this with you and best of luck to all and congrats to those that make the next stage of the PSNI AI testing.

Regards

:eek:4N6:pac:

kitchensink

We can only wait and see if the posts are jobs for the boys or genuinely open to civilians. I am a realist, especially with the current security situation but I find it hard to get my head round that civilians would be carrying weapons or that if I was to get a post that I would be carrying a firearm.

Delancey

kitchensink wrote: »

We can only wait and see if the posts are jobs for the boys or genuinely open to civilians. I am a realist, especially with the current security situation but I find it hard to get my head round that civilians would be carrying weapons or that if I was to get a post that I would be carrying a firearm.

No way you would be carrying a firearm.

The Policing Board some time ago shot down the Chief Constables plans for armed civilian roles ( some of you may recall his plan for armed guards at various Police premises to free up officers for other duties ).
The fact is that armed civilian roles are not possible but a neat way around this prohibition is to employ ex-Police who by virtue of their former as opposed to current positions are permitted to carry a PPW.

Any applicants from a non-Police background will not be armed - which convinces me that most if not all of the positions will go to ex-Police.

Shield

Delancey wrote: »

Any applicants from a non-Police background will not be armed - which convinces me that most if not all of the positions will go to ex-Police.

The cynical person might say the jobs for the lads job spec was written specifically for ex-police only and worded in such a way that only ex-police are eligible to apply.

Delancey

Shield wrote: »

The cynical person might say the jobs for the lads job spec was written specifically for ex-police only and worded in such a way that only ex-police are eligible to apply.

Shield , so sad to see such cynicism in one so young

On a serious note - as I mentioned in another thread , if these investigator roles turn out to be a jobs for the lads exercise it follows that very few RC's will be recruited given the low level of RC representation among the Patten leavers and even lower level among the ranks of the FTR.
Such an outcome would be at odds with the stated ambition of improving RC representation at all levels in the organisation.

Dietcoke1

Delancey wrote: »

If you think of the Investigator role as a ' Para-Police ' position then you will see the ability of an investigator to carry a PPW may prove crucial - due to the current security situation the idea of unarmed people in this job is difficult ( for me at any rate ) to imagine .
The abolition of the FTR was a political decision that was included in the Patten Report , had the decision been left to the PSNI I believe the FTR would still be here - these investigator roles are , in my opinion , a mechanism to retain them albeit under a different name.
Having said all that I wish everyone who has applied the best of luck.

The FTR do not have the experience necessary for the role of investigator.They were employed in the organisation in a security role and did not carry out any type of investigation.

The organisation knows this and as a result I do not believe there is any such mechanism in place to try and retain them. Having said that they are many ex CID etc who would be perfect for this role and maybe the role of investigator is aimed at them.

Delancey

Interesting point you make Dietcoke - I have heard there were FTR who never even took a statement during their time in the Police.
Looking at the job spec it would probably suit ex-CID very well.
I'm interested in how those applicants from non-Police backgrounds fare.

kitchensink

I phoned grafton this afternoon. The guy I was speaking with said that no letters have been sent out yet as they were still short listing. He wouldn't answer if we'll hear by Friday!

EG84

As a non police background applicant I just thought I'd let you know I recieved word yesterday that I passed the shortlisting stage and have a date for the assesment centre which a slightly different format than PSNI recruitment campaign as there is only a verbal reasoning and situational judgement tests. I'll let you know how I get on!!

siv4444

Well done:-) Good to hear your from a non police background, sounds promising!!
I too am from a non police background, no word tho, going to stay hopeful now tho!!
Did they give you much notice for the assessment date?

kitchensink

I got the same letter as EG84.
I was wandering if EG84 has any backgrounds in investigations?

siv4444

Oh no im raging now!! Did you take it from the original letter that there were only contacting successful canditates by end of week?
What is your background kitchensink?

kitchensink

Hey Sivv444, my background is non police and have been working as a civilian investigator for a number of years.
I'm not sure how grafton are handling the process. I would maybe leave it aday or two as any delays could be due to the numbers that applied.

siv4444

Yes my experience of Grafton has always been that they are never to the date stated! Although my only experience on my application is in relation to uni work I have no employment experience of investigating.

Delancey

Moderator Note - Forgive me for mentioning it again but please be sure not to give out details of dates , times , venues , etc in relation to assessments for any PSNI job.
Good luck to those going forward in the process.