Drug Expert Witness Coordinator

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; Eastleigh; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority based in Southampton is seeking a Drug Expert Witness Coordinator to manage expert witnesses, provide tactical advice on drug operations, and ensure high-quality reporting. The role requires a Level 2 Drug Expert Witness Qualification and extensive experience in drug supply investigations. This permanent, full-time position offers a salary range of £40,383 - £42,612 per annum and includes generous annual leave and wellbeing support.

Benefits

Generous annual leave starting at 24 days

Local Government Pension Scheme

Access to learning and development opportunities

Wellbeing support

Retail and leisure discounts

Qualifications

• Extensive experience completing investigations into drug supply offences.
• Experience of giving evidence in court related to drug supply.
• In-depth knowledge of drug-related matters.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and triage requests for drug expert witnesses.
• Advise senior force personnel on drugs policies and procedures.
• Ensure effective drug expert succession planning.

Skills

Investigation skills

Knowledge of drug-related matters

Communication skills

Education

Level 2 Drug Expert Witness Qualification

Job description

Job Title: Drug Expert Witness Coordinator, Forensic Support, Forensic Services - HC623076

Location: Southampton Central Police Station.

Salary: SO2, £40,383.00 - £42,612.00 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 37 hours per week (may include unsocial hours occasionally with appropriate recompense).

Closing Date: Monday 26th January 2026 at 23:59.

About The Role

You will coordinate and triage all requests for work and allocate them to suitable drug expert witnesses; mentor and develop all Force Drugs Expert Witnesses (DEW) to ensure high-quality reports and statements. You will advise the force at all levels of seniority on drugs policies and procedures, including providing tactical advice for drug operations and support for festivals and CLIW where required, and serve as a point of contact for internal and external partners in law enforcement and other public bodies.

Your support to all Force Drug Expert Witnesses will ensure continued and effective expertise and promote an effective force drug expert succession planning regime.

What's On Offer

• Family friendly policies supporting those with caring responsibilities.
• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 24 days in addition to public holidays, rising to 29 after five years' service.
• Access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Retail, holiday and leisure discounts through Hampshire Police Leisure and Sports Club or Blue Light Card.
• Excellent wellbeing support and access to Employee Assistance Programme.
• Staff representation groups and inclusion network.
• Eye test vouchers.

Essential Qualifications

• Competent Constable or staff educated to or have undertaken work experience deemed to have brought the post-holder to a comparable level.
• Minimum of Level 2 Drug Expert Witness Qualification.

Essential Experience

• Extensive experience of completing investigations into offences relating to drug supply.
• Experience of giving evidence in court in trials relating to drug supply.
• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of drug-related matters.
• Demonstrate an understanding of money laundering.

Competencies and Values

• Level 2
• Level 2
• Level 1
• Level 2
• Level 2

Contact Details

Please contact the Recruitment Team at 023 8045 1611 or via email during the application process.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary is an inclusive employer and strives to have a workforce representative of the communities we police and serve.

We recognise we are not fully representative and are working to address this imbalance through a variety of initiatives.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary is an equal opportunities employer that promotes flexible working, enabling officers and staff to achieve a healthy work-life balance while meeting operational requirements of the constabulary. We actively encourage applications to be made on a full-time, part-time, or flexible working basis.

The Equality Act 2010 allows us to promote equality within Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary by adopting Positive Action to support people from under-represented groups. Our aim is to recruit talented people with a diverse range of skills and experience and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our Positive Action team are available to provide support through the application and assessment process by contacting:

The Disability Confident campaign aims to remove barriers, increase understanding and ensure that people have opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations. We will accommodate requests for reasonable adjustments where possible throughout our recruitment and promotions processes and encourage anyone requiring reasonable adjustments to disclose this at the earliest opportunity.