Criminal Investigator
HM Revenue and Customs
Apply before 11:55 pm on Friday 14th February 2025
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(Stratford, Croydon)
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About the job
Job summary
Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it’s really like to work at HMRC.
Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.
About HMRC
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is one of the UK’s largest organisations, with around 60,000 employees, collecting over £605 billion in tax revenue. We are an effective, efficient and impartial tax and payments authority with a vital purpose: to collect the money that pays for the UK’s public services and help families and individuals with targeted financial support.
About Fraud Investigation Service
HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) is responsible for the Department’s civil and criminal investigations.
FIS provides HMRC with an effective investigation arm to enforce the Department’s compliance policies. This enables the Department to deliver against the strategic responsibilities across all the taxes and duties it administers. This includes complex offshore evasion, international smuggling of illicit excise goods, exports of controlled weapons and technology, labour market abuses, VAT and Self-Assessment repayment frauds and a host of other fraud attacks targeted at the tax system.
FIS is home to a wide range of people with a variety of skills and professional backgrounds – including accountants, cybercrime specialists, criminal justice professionals, tax professionals and operational delivery support teams to name but a few. We use a range of powers and approaches to protect funding for UK public services, investigating the most harmful tax cheats and ensuring nobody is beyond our reach.
These roles are for Criminal Investigators within our different FIS business areas, Organised Crime, Offshore Corporate and Wealthy, Individuals and Business, Economic Crime and Internal Investigations.
Job description
In this role you will undertake a variety of daily activities. You may be searching premises one day and conducting suspect interviews the next. We’ll provide world-class training as you develop specialised expertise in combatting tax fraud and protecting the public purse.
At its core, this job is about outsmarting criminal groups threatening the UK. You’ll need sharp judgement, resilience under confrontation and integrity as you exercise far-reaching investigative powers.
In addition to operational work, this role involves vital desk-based duties where attention to detail is key. You will rigorously compile evidence and prepare thorough briefings to build an airtight case that will stand up to scrutiny in court. Investigators must be comfortable presenting their findings and defending their investigative decisions under examination in court.
You will be asked to undertake any aspect of criminal investigation work for which HMRC has responsibility. You will be expected to undertake:
Search of Premises
- Undertake operational activities such as search of premises, seizure of goods and detention of goods.
- apply laws, always adhering to legislation and policy.
Arrests.
- Undertake arrests, conduct search of person and interview under caution, diffusing potentially confrontational situations.
Utilise HMRC Powers
- Use powers granted to HMRC to investigate and gather evidence.
- Develop and maintain knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations.
Make decisions
- Use own judgement to assess evidence.
- Take ownership and be accountable for planning, decisions and activities regarding investigations.
- Utilise forensic evidence and understand how and when to use forensic services.
- Interact and collaborate with a wide range of internal and external people including other parts of HMRC, the Police, Border Force, National Crime Agency, Solicitors, Crown Prosecutors and colleagues from Other Government Departments.
Complete witness statements
- Take witness statements from a variety of people, both internal and external.
Attend court
- Attend court to give evidence in criminal prosecutions and / or financial recovery hearings.
- Undertake the role of Disclosure Officer / Reviewing Officer in relation to reviewing and revealing material, created, or obtained in the course of an investigation to the prosecutor in line with legislation.
Desk based duties
- Analysis of evidence, preparation of written material and official documents, including Search Warrants and Production Order applications, case files and detailed reports.
- Identify, classify and handle information connected to an investigation and ensure legal obligations are discharged effectively.
- Conduct briefing and de-briefing activities to identify improvements and best practice, sharing that knowledge appropriately.
In return, you’ll gain immense satisfaction knowing your work makes a direct impact keeping the nation safe. Plus, access to unparalleled opportunities for career development and progression within the organisation. We offer a competitive salary with a flexibility payment (once training has been completed), and a great career average pension.
Person specification
- Inquisitive, open-minded and objective
- Committed and conscientious
- Organised even when completing multiple tasks
- Resilient and able to deal with challenge and/or confrontation
- Ability to carefully analyse large sets of data to spot patterns and draw conclusions
- Demonstrate balanced judgement under pressure; follow rules and guidelines
- Work respectfully with others to achieve common goals while appreciating different working styles
- Work with integrity, impartiality, professionalism and objectivity
- Take accountability for decisions made and be prepared and able to give evidence in court
- Committed to developing specialist investigation skills and building a career at HMRC
- Confident communicator with good verbal and written skills
Essential Criteria:
This role requires recent experience of conducting criminal investigations and a thorough knowledge of Criminal Justice Procedures.
- You must hold one of the following HMRC accredited or an equivalent Criminal Justice procedure.
- Level 4 Diploma – Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist/Officer, or Level 4
- Diploma – Accredited Counter Fraud Manager
- BTEC Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Enforcement (Investigation)
- Professional Investigation Programme (PIP 2)
- Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)
- Candidates not holding a relevant qualification will not be sifted.
- Candidates must have experience of conducting criminal investigations. Including a working knowledge of Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 for posts in England and Wales. Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 for posts in Northern Ireland and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 & Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 for posts based in Scotland.
- A full valid UK Driving Licence (manual and automatic, but not a provisional licence) at the time of application and be willing to drive official vehicles.*
*Due to the nature of the work and in order to perform the core functions of this role, a full valid UK driving licence and willingness to drive official vehicles is an essential requirement. You will be asked to provide evidence of a valid licence at the pre-employment stage.
We recognise that some people cannot drive due to a disability or underlying health condition and may not be able to meet this requirement. Where this applies, you will be able to request that this requirement is removed by means of a reasonable adjustment. You will have the opportunity to tell us about any reasonable adjustments once the selection process is complete, as well as about any wider support you need.
Licences
Due to the nature of the work and in order to perform the core functions of this role, a full valid UK driving licence and willingness to drive official vehicles is an essential requirement. You will be asked to provide evidence of a valid licence at the pre-employment stage.
We recognise that some people cannot drive due to a disability or underlying health condition and may not be able to meet this requirement. Where this applies, you will be able to request that this requirement is removed by means of a reasonable adjustment. You will have the opportunity to tell us about any reasonable adjustments once the selection process is complete, as well as about any wider support you need.
Qualifications
You must hold one of the following HMRC accredited or an equivalent Criminal Justice procedure.
Level 4 Diploma – Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist/Officer, or Level 4
Diploma – Accredited Counter Fraud Manager
BTEC Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Enforcement (Investigation)
Professional Investigation Programme (PIP 2)
Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)
Candidates not holding a relevant qualification will not be sifted.
Candidates must have experience of conducting criminal investigations. Including a working knowledge of Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 for posts in England and Wales. Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 for posts in Northern Ireland and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 & Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 for posts based in Scotland.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- A technical question relating to the role will be asked at interview
Benefits
HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.
We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.
- Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
- Family friendly policies.
- Personal support.
- Coaching and development.
To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service.
Flexibility Payment
This post attracts a Level 1a Flexibility Payment (FP) that is paid monthly with salary. This FP allows HMRC flexibility to change your work pattern, at short notice, to meet business needs. Additionally, you will be expected to work longer hours from time to time, at weekends and outside your normal working hours/days (including bank holidays).
When you have successfully completed the full Training and Assessment Period (TAP), it is likely you will have to deliver other attendance in addition to that secured by Level 1a. For example, you may be required to undertake periods of On Call at a frequency of 1 week in 4. You may also be expected to work additional hours.
In applying for a position and accepting the FP you agree that you can and will meet those attendance requirements.
Note: Payment of FP is dependent on successful completion of role specific training. You are not eligible to receive FP Level 1a until that stage is reached. Where additional FP eligibility applies, you will move to that in stages. (See the attached document for details).
FP levels are reviewed annually – on a business need and personal basis – and may be subject to change.
If you currently receive the Flexibility Payment, which may include Transition Protection and/or a Maintained Pension Value, moving to a new role may affect your payments.
Details of the Flexibility Payment can be found in the attached document.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:
- A name-blind CV
- A 500 word Personal Statement
- A 250 word statement addressing the specified behaviours
We acknowledge that AI can assist you in your application. Find our guidelines here.
CV
A CV – Please include your job history up to your last 3 roles (100 words per role) against the responsibilities outlined in the advert and share any qualifications that meet the essential criteria.
Personal Statement
A Personal Statement (a maximum of 500 words), outlining how you meet the points in the Person Specification and the essential criteria above and what you can bring to the role.
Sift
An initial sift will be carried out on your CV and Personal Statement. You will be scored against the experience and essential criteria required for the role, as outlined in the advert.
Should your CV/Personal Statement not meet the essential criteria your application will not be progressed any further and you will receive the minimum score for both elements.
Those who are successful will progress to a full sift. If there is a high number of applicants, the lead behaviour will need to score 4 or above before going to full sift.
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Interview
During the interview your Technical knowledge, Behaviours and Strengths will be assessed, as follows:
Experience-based scenario questions in relation to the role to further demonstrate your skills and knowledge.
Behaviour-based questions to explore in detail what you are capable of. Behaviours to be tested are:
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
You will be asked strengths-based questions to explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the job role
This is an example of a strengths-based question
“It is often said that the customer's needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?”
There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.
An experience-based scenario technical question in relation to the role to further demonstrate your skills and knowledge.
After interview, merit lists will be created for each location advertised within the vacancy. If you are successful at interview, you will be placed on the merit list for the location you have expressed an interest for. Appointments from each merit list will be made in strict merit order.
Other Information :
Locations
Candidates are asked to provide 1 location preference only. Please ensure that you only apply for a location that you are willing and able to work from, as we will only make one offer of employment. Any additional notes included in a ‘Further Location Preferences (optional)’ field within the application form, will not be considered. Please be aware that you cannot change your location preference after submitting your application.
Business areas
Successful applicants could be placed within any of the FIS business areas ie Organised Crime, Offshore Corporate and Wealthy, Individuals and Business, Economic Crime and Internal Investigations. If placed within Internal Investigations, you will join either an investigation or intelligence team based across 3 locations in Manchester, Nottingham, or Croydon. Internal Investigations (Anti-Corruption) Investigators and Intelligence Officers work in criminal case teams gathering intelligence and evidence on individuals, corporates, and Organised Crime Groups (OCG’s) in order to develop, progress and enhance criminal investigations focused on Insider Threats within HMRC and both internal and external attacks on HMRC systems.
Security Clearance
If successful; you must undertake and pass HM Government Baseline Personnel Standard (BPSS) basic security checks before you start a role in HMRC. This role also requires an additional level of vetting Security Clearance (SC) vetting. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. Provided you have passed BPSS, you may be offered a conditional appointment which will be subject to passing SC vetting. Please be advised that failure to obtain Security Check (SC) vetting may result in dismissal.
For Glasgow and Belfast vacancies you will need Security Check clearance before you can enter the building.
Due to the nature of this role, we would discourage you from sharing your intention to apply via social media or similar channels.
More information about the vetting process can be found at the following link: Gov.uk - Security Vetting
Integrity Declarations
All applicants will be required to declare any past convictions, criminal findings, or police cautions, regardless of whether they are ‘spent’. You must also declare any disciplinary proceedings relating to previous employments. The disclosure of this information will not automatically bar you from employment with FIS, but we need to be aware of any event or issue which could impinge on your credibility if questioned in court.
Training Requirement
A comprehensive training programme is provided. There will be a requirement for you to attend a three-week face to face training programme which may take you away from home. Through this training period you will be required to be available full-time. This training event will build on previous experience in the Law Enforcement arena, based on the qualifications you already possess and provide a refresh and upskilling in HMRC policy and procedure. For those that have not previously had the power to carry out an arrest under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, you will be required to attend a further one-week training event to acquire the skills and knowledge to carry out arrest and search of person. Both of these events are PASS/FAIL. Failure to reach the required standard on either of these events may result in you having to complete HMRC’s full Criminal Investigation Foundation Training programme, which is 9 weeks and a mixture of digital and face to face events which you would need to be available for the full programme.
Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST) is a crucial element of becoming a criminal investigator. This is a PASS/FAIL event. The event includes digital and face-to-face training where you will learn practical techniques to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues, as well as how to apprehend and physically restrain suspects and apply handcuffs. The event is mainly physical and includes scenario-based exercises where you will require an appropriate level of fitness and mobility such as being able to carry equipment up and down stairs and get up and down from the floor unaided. All officers undertaking this training must obtain a valid occupational health certificate (acquired from HMRC’s healthcare provider) stating they are fit to undertake regular physical training. Once this training is complete, you will have a one-day refresher training event at least every six months after this to ensure you are able to carry out operational duties.
Training Assessment Period – up to 6 months
The majority of people will successfully complete their Training and Assessment Period (TAP), but it is important to set out the potential outcomes if the required standards are not achieved.
External Candidates
Failure to meet the required standards for the training programme will result in employment with HMRC being brought to an end.
Managers will discuss specifics of learning programmes with successful candidates during the induction process.
Internal/OGD Candidates
Failure to meet the required standards for the programme will result in appointment to this role being brought to an end and consideration of redeployment into an alternative role. This may result in the removal of Criminal Investigator Flexibility Payment (FPs) paid in respect of the Criminal Investigator role. Where it is not possible to redeploy the candidate into an alternative role, the candidate may be assigned to the HMRC Redeployment Register.
Candidates appointed on promotion who do not successfully complete the TAP will revert back to their previous substantive grade and the respective HMRC pay scale for this grade. Where any FPs are removed, jobholders will not be entitled to a Period of Adjustment (POA), but they will receive 56 days’ notice in writing of the cessation of the allowance.
This is applicable to HMRC Candidates and those transferring to HMRC from Other Government Departments (OGDs).
Eligibility
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [389459] & vacancy closing date [14/02/2025]’
To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Criminal Record Check
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Merit List
After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact the UBS Recruitment Team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Additional Security Information
Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers
Please note that this role is unsuitable for contractual homeworkers due to the nature and/or requirements of the role.
Terms and Conditions
Current Civil Servants (all contract types) will need to ensure that they are still employed as a Civil Servant on or beyond the start date for the post. If their contract ends (for example due to the end of Fixed Term Appointment contract or resignation) at any point during the application process for the advertised role, they will no longer be eligible and may be withdrawn.
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.
Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Joanne Smith
- Email : joanne.smith4@hmrc.gov.uk
- Telephone : 03000541998
Recruitment team
- Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk
Further information
In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.
