“I became interested in the world of intelligence when I was working in force on a proactive team dealing with high harm crime. Intelligence is the lifeblood of policing; it’s the driving force for covert investigations and applications. Covert activities then generate further intelligence and so the picture grows, ultimately leading to very successful interventions and results.”
There are sensitivities around Anya’s work which means she can’t go into much detail about her day-to-day operations, although she has been working on operations targeting firearm supply, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking and multi-kilo class A drug supply.
“I can tell you that we utilise some of the most sensitive tactics available to law enforcement, such as Targeted Interception (TI) and Targeted Equipment Interference (TEI). My work also involves engagement with CHIS (Covert Human Intelligence Source) handlers and the Counter Corruption Unit and there are some further extremely sensitive covert tactics which are on the horizon for us – it’s fascinating.”
A typical day
“The working day can be really varied but primarily revolves around ensuring that our ‘customers’ – Senior Investigating Officers (SIOs) within SWROCU or one of the five regional forces – have the most complete intelligence picture to drive their operations forward. Some days we will be listening to surveillance team radios and providing intelligence updates to SIOs and surveillance commanders. This can be very fast-paced work where the intelligence we provide, which can come from a variety of sources, directly impacts where and how surveillance teams are deployed and the decision making of the SIO. On other days we will be developing intelligence logs and undertaking research in order to drive operations forward.”
SIDO’s all receive training as Communications Data SPOCs.
“This is unique. No other IDO in any other capability within the ROCU has this training, and it allows us to obtain our own call data very quickly and efficiently. The course for this, along with other mandatory training, means the Unit invests in residential courses for SIDOs which are three weeks in total. Add into that the Developed Vetting (DV) and further specialised training which we undertake and there is a big investment in you!”
Anya says that her work also involves reviewing bids from forces to see what covert tactics would be most beneficial to their investigations, writing applications for high-end covert tactics and liaising with partners in the Sensitive Intelligence Network, including the NCA, HMPPS and HMRC.
Useful skills and interests
“If you have an interest in intelligence and how things like call data work with it, that would be a great start. This job would really suit the sort of person that likes to solve problems, someone who likes to dig deep and keeps looking and researching. It’s not a physically active role – you don’t get to run around on-foot – but it can be very rewarding, especially when you see significant prison sentences for serious organised crime and know that you were a key part of making that happen.”
Anya says she feels valued within the team and enjoys the autonomy that comes with the role.
“There is a lot of personal ownership. We run an on-call facility and can sometimes be dealing with threats to life and firearms intelligence in fast time which can be very demanding, but I get a real buzz from knowing that the information I’ve developed and produced has led to action being taken and ultimately OCGs being disrupted, dismantled or brought to justice.”
*Name has been changed