Jack joined the Technical Surveillance Unit (TSU) almost a year ago, having previously worked as a response officer. He saw the role advertised, spoke to a few people he knew in the force and at SWROCU to find out more about the job, and went for it.
“I had a bit of a reputation on the response team for being technically minded – if someone had a problem with their laptop, they’d come to me.
“My background in IT before joining the police is undoubtedly an advantage – but actually it’s more about having that technical interest and the right approach than having any sort of advanced IT skills. At the end of the day, that’s what the training’s for.”
Jack completed courses at the College of Policing, before fully qualifying as a Technical Surveillance Officer.
“In total, it takes about two years to complete all the training,” said Jack. “It’s not the sort of job where you can just come in, sit down, and start work. There is so much learning to do both in-house and at the College.
“The two courses I’ve been on have been invaluable, both from a deployment perspective and from a covert operations perspective. They’ve been absolutely fantastic.”
Finding the best solutions
While the ROCU focuses on serious and organised crime, the TSU’s work is much broader.
Jack said: “We support investigations into all levels of crime, from long-running or complex jobs where criminals are exploiting every advance in technology to continue their offending, to live jobs like vulnerable missing people and kidnaps.
“It’s often all hands to the pump to find a solution and look at different ways that either technology or people power can resolve it.
“But we also – and this is equally important – support local forces with local issues. For example, if Mrs Smith is having stones thrown at her window, we can help her – by supporting her local police team – find the culprits and stop her being a victim.
“We have a bit of a motto in the TSU – give us a problem and we’ll find the solution.”
“If you take the job I’m working on at the moment, which on paper is a simple volume crime job, it’s evolved from a straightforward ‘let’s look at camera options’, to a whole host of data gathering opportunities and specialist tactics.
“It’s only by all sitting around and saying, ‘What if we do this? What if we do that?’ that we’ve found the best solution. That’s the real beauty of the role, it’s all about being creative, being practical, and working as a team.”
Making a difference
The TSU is a growing team, with more officers being recruited to support growing demand.
“Nothing stands still in our world,” he said. “Tech companies are continually working on new ways to secure their devices and as they get smarter, criminals – and we – must get smarter, too. The learning is constant, whether from colleagues or official courses.
“The mix of experience within the team is so strong, it’s a real learning environment.”
”We’re all empowered to research, to be creative, to pursue our interests and develop new technologies – cutting edge stuff – that will ultimately make a very real difference.”
Jack is upfront that it’s a challenging role with a lot to learn, but even with the demands of the job, his work-life balance has improved.
“I worked earlies, lates and nights for years as a response officer, so to be on a largely 8-4, Monday-to-Friday pattern has given me my rugby back,” Jack added.
“I loved the variety of response work and the fact it was different every single day, but this role has taken that to another level.
“If you enjoy the technical side of things, if you’re practical and a real problem solver, if you want to play a part in solving all levels of crime and can think on your feet, if you work really well in a team – and have a vivid imagination – TSU is absolutely the place for you.”
*Name has been changed