Digital Forensic Unit Technician (NEROCU)

Northumbria Police; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Northumbria Police in Sunderland seeks a Digital Forensic Unit Technician to join the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU). You will prepare and extract data from digital exhibits, maintain forensic equipment, and ensure accreditation compliance to support investigations.

You will work within the Digital Forensic Unit, applying forensically safe methods, following quality standards, and contributing to reports and potential court proceedings.

Qualifications

• Experience in forensic examination of digital devices.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to plan and organise time effectively.
• Demonstrable problem-solving skills.
• Strong teamwork skills.
• Ability to communicate technical processes to non-technical stakeholders.
• Exposure to police reports and materials of a disturbing nature.

Responsibilities

• Use forensically safe techniques to secure and retrieve data from digital systems in line with national guidelines.
• Process recovered digital data for evaluation and analysis.
• Test and maintain equipment to ensure operational readiness.
• Support quality controls to meet regulatory codes of practice.
• Provide specialist technical advice to investigations.
• Ensure compliance with the unit's Quality Management System and relevant codes.
• Participate in improvement projects and promote quality standards.
• Prepare statements and reports; attend court when required.
• Assist in archiving and data retention within the unit.

Skills

Forensic data analysis

Attention to detail

Time management

Problem solving

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Academic qualifications in digital forensics

Tools

Digital forensics equipment

Job description

Salary: Band 5 £28,689- £29,859 (Please note it is Northumbria Police policy to appoint at the beginning of the band)

Location: Sunderland

Hours: Full time 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

The role

We’re looking for a Digital Forensic Unit Technician to join the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU).

Our Digital Forensic Unit is responsible for extracting and analysing data from more than 2,000 electronic devices each year, securing evidence for some of the North East’s most high-profile court cases. Not an easy feat, so we’re looking to grow our team to help us on our journey to become an Outstanding Police Force.

We’ve introduced an exciting new role to strengthen our team, so this could be the perfect time to join us as a Digital Forensic Technician. You’ll support investigations by preparing and extracting data from digital exhibits, maintaining digital forensic equipment, and ensuring as a force we comply with laboratory-based accreditation and Regulatory Code of Practice.

This is a role that is vital in assisting with the investigation of all types of crime, so if you are looking for a rewarding career where you can make a real difference – this is the opportunity!

What you’ll do

• Use forensically safe techniques to secure and retrieve data from digital systems in accordance with national guidelines and forensic quality standards.
• Process recovered digital data to enable evaluation and analysis.
• Testing and maintenance of equipment to ensure effective operation and compliance.
• Apply and support quality controls to meet the Forensic Science Regulators statutory code of practice.
• Provide specialist technical advice to support investigations.
• Ensure compliance with the Digital Forensic Unit’s Quality Management System, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice and Conduct.
• Participate in improvement projects and promoting quality standards.
• Prepare statements and reports with the additional responsibility of court attendance.
• Assist in the archiving and data retention process relating to data stored within the unit.

What you’ll bring

• Academic qualifications, working knowledge and/or experience in the forensic examination of digital devices.
• Accuracy and excellent attention to detail.
• The ability to plan and organise your time effectively.
• Demonstrable experience in problem solving.
• Strong team working skills.
• The ability to communicate technical processes to non-technical stakeholders.

Please be aware that you will be exposed to police reports, intelligence, and photographic material of a disturbing nature as part of this role. You will need to have the physical and emotional resilience to deal with material of a distressing and upsetting nature.

We know it’s important for you to feel that you’re not only part of a great team, but part of a community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, and their talents are fully utilised. Appointments are based on merit alone.

Just so you know

Our application form will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role of a Digital Forensic Unit Technician with #TeamNP. To help support your application research what makes us tick here at Northumbria, the role you’re applying for and the values and behaviours that contribute.

The recruitment process will consist of the initial application form followed by a face to face interview.Just so you know, you can save your application and come back to it any time prior to the closing date on the advert.

We are proud members of the Business Disability Forum, working together to improve the lives of disabled employees. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. In cases of very high application volumes, we may prioritise those who most closely meet the criteria, applying the same fair approach for all candidates.

If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process (for example we can arrange extra time for tests or provide a sign language interpreter) You can get in touch with us via [e-mail] for any support regarding the application process. Please provide us with plenty of notice so we can ensure your visit goes smoothly.

If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Management Vetting (MV) form and Biometric Testing, therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 5 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information, Biometrics and references.

Terms of appointment

This is a permanent role subject to a six-month probationary period.

If you are successful in your application, you will have a six-month probation period with us where you will be unable to apply for any other post advertised internally or externally.