Holmes Indexer Researcher

Durham Constabulary; Chester-le-Street; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Durham Constabulary is seeking dedicated individuals to accurately register, index and maintain investigative information within HOLMES2, ensuring compliance with national standards. You will support the Receiver/Reader, manage actions, and contribute to intelligence/evidence flow.

You will work in a fast-paced policing environment, collaborating with colleagues and partners to ensure high-quality service, uphold professionalism, integrity, and public service values.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Commitment to public service and organisational values.

Responsibilities

• Process, register and index Major investigations documents in HOLMES2.
• Perform quality checks on indexed material and HOLMES records.
• Attend operational briefings and case conferences with CPS and prosecutors.
• Assist file officers to prepare comprehensive court files for CPS.
• Research HOLMES database to ensure continuity of evidence for prosecution.

Skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Adaptability

Problem solving

Education

4 GCSEs including English and Maths

Tools

HOLMES2 system

Job description

Hours/Contract: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Closing Date: 5pm, Friday 2nd October 2026

Make a Difference – Join Our Team

We are looking for dedicated and motivated individuals to join Durham Constabulary, helping to protect our communities and deliver an outstanding policing service. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to meaningful work where your skills and commitment will make a real impact.

The Role

To accurately register, index and maintain investigative information and documentation within the HOLMES2 system, ensuring compliance with national standards and procedures. To raise and manage actions as directed by the Receiver and/or Reader, and to undertake research and information analysis in support of document and action management and the flow of intelligence / evidence.

As part of our team, you will play a vital role in supporting operational policing and delivering high-quality services to the public. Working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, you will collaborate with colleagues and partners to achieve positive outcomes and uphold our core values of professionalism, integrity, and service.

What You’ll Do

Process and index documentation relating to Major investigations, ensuring accurate data input drawn from all documentation coming into the incident room and following instruction from Management team.

Conduct regular quality checks of indexed material, actions and HOLMES records to ensure accuracy, compliance and data integrity, identifying discrepancies to HOLMES Supervisor or Manager

Attend all relevant operational briefings/de-briefings, as well as case conferences with CPS, Prosecution Counsel and Expert Witness when required

Assist the enquiry team file officer, to prepare a comprehensive court file to forwarded to CPS, in accordance with criminal justice system requirements and deadlines

Research HOLMES database to ensure continuity of evidence in respect of those exhibits identified as forming part of the prosecution case.

Deliver high standards of service aligned with organisational priorities

Contribute to the safety and wellbeing of our communities

Work effectively as part of a team in a demanding but rewarding environment

• Support continuous improvement and organisational excellence

Adhere to policies, procedures, and professional standards at all times

Special Requirements

• Willingness to work outside normal office hours and deploy to major incident room when required.
• Initial training requirement, may be out of force – 4 weeks

What You’ll Bring

• 4 GCSEs including English Language or Literature and Mathematics (Grade 9 to 4/A to C) or an approved equivalent. An individual who possesses an equivalent e.g. NVQ must provide evidence of Math’s and English.
• At least 1 year experience of researching systems and retrieving useable information
• A strong commitment to public service and our organisational values
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities
• Relevant qualifications and/or experience for the role

If you hold a higher qualification than those required above or minimum 5 years relevant experience, please evidence this on your application and it will be reviewedby our recruitment team.

For further information, please view the Job Description and Person Specification attached.

Further information

Any offer of employment will be subject to appropriate vetting checks which will be maintained/updated throughout the period of service.

Applicants must have been a UK resident for at least three years prior to the date of application.

If applicants have not been a resident in the UK for at least three years and can provide a VERIFIABLE certificate from the police of any country where they have taken temporary residence. The certificate must indicate that they have not been convicted of any offence whilst in that country or involved in any investigation by a Law Enforcement Agency.

Any tattoos deemed to be obscene, or advocates sexual, racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination, by written word or design is prohibited and the presence of such a tattoo would preclude an applicant from passing the recruitment process for employment with the Constabulary.

We are committed to equal opportunities, we therefore encourage you to complete and return the equality monitoring form. This form is optional, and your responses will be kept confidential and for statistical purposes only.

Candidates must have indefinite leave to work and live in the UK and be free from any restriction. Any successful candidate will be asked to provide evidence of this.

Please note: some documents may not currently be suited for use with assistive technology. If you require information in an alternative format, please contact us .