Surveillance Sergeant - Counter Terrorism Policing

West Midlands Police; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional law enforcement agency in Birmingham is seeking a Substantive Sergeant to lead the Counter Terrorism Unit. You will manage surveillance operatives, coordinate joint operations, and ensure compliance with legal standards. Ideal candidates should have experience in surveillance techniques and strong leadership qualities. This permanent position requires flexibility with shift patterns and may include national deployments.

Benefits

Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

Disability Confident Interview Scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in foot, mobile, and technical surveillance techniques.
• Demonstrated commitment to the role with flexibility in shift patterns.
• Ability to manage a team and make decisions in dynamic operations.

Responsibilities

• Monitor training requirements for surveillance operatives.
• Manage a team of surveillance operatives.
• Make decisions supporting operational objectives.
• Liaise with other agencies on joint operations.
• Supervise dissemination of intelligence material.

Skills

Leadership

Flexibility

Surveillance Planning

Communication Skills

Technical Surveillance Techniques

Initiative and Innovation

Legal Issues Awareness

Taser Training

Education

Q1 Surveillance Training

Job description

Closing date: 7th December 2025 11:59 PM

Rank: Substantive Sergeant

Type: Permanent

⇄ Secondment or transferee opportunity

The Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) network stretches across the UK. We work alongside partners to find information and evidence to thwart terrorist planning and help bring perpetrators to justice.

Based at our modern offices near to Birmingham International Airport, the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit (CTPWM) coordinates the regional counter terrorist response and provides specialist support to police forces in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Mercia and the West Midlands.

You’ll work a shift pattern that includes lates, weekends and be part of an on‑call rota. Due to the nature of the role, shift changes at short notice and extended shifts are possible and flexibility is an essential element of this role. National deployment may occur to meet operational needs.

The role

The CTU Surveillance teams provide tactical support to both proactive and reactive operations as directed by CT Tasking. As a Sergeant, you’ll be responsible for the management, administration and effectiveness of your team, offering control and direction of an operational surveillance team.

Operational focus is around those individuals that pose the greatest threat, risk and harm to the region or to the wider CT Network, to ensure we are better able to serve the public and protect them from harm.

This role offers the opportunity to personally develop yourself and have a significant impact of the quality of life experienced by the communities we serve.

Responsibilities

• You will be responsible for the monitoring of training requirements for surveillance operatives.
• You will manage a team of surveillance operatives.
• You will be responsible for decision making to support operational objectives in dynamic surveillance operations.
• Liaising and co-ordinating with the surveillance teams of other agencies on joint surveillance operations.
• Monitoring vehicles and equipment used by surveillance operatives.
• Supervising collation and dissemination of intelligence material gathered by operatives.

Skills and competencies

Essential

• Displays excellent standards and values as a leader, with a high degree of commitment and flexibility.
• Working knowledge of all legislative aspects that surround surveillance planning and operations i.e. Disclosure, Police Act 1997, Covert policing codes of practice, RIPA 2000.
• Q1 Surveillance training and advanced driver training for surveillance purposes.
• Conversant with legal issues affecting surveillance.
• Experience and ability in foot, mobile and technical surveillance techniques.
• Initiative and innovation whilst leading and motivating surveillance teams.
• Communication skills with the ability to operate effectively at a variety of levels.
• Taser trained or willingness to complete this training.
• Demonstrate a high degree of commitment and flexibility, shift changes at short notice and out of region deployments can occur regularly therefore the ability to meet this requirement is essential.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the National Intelligence Model (NIM), together with the tasking and coordination process.
• Knowledge of current developments/advancements in technology and techniques in surveillance.
• Experience of managing a surveillance team and reaching operational targets as determined by the SIO.
• Trained Risk Assessor.

Additional information

Please note that successful applicants may be subject to voluntary drugs and alcohol testing and will be required to have voluntarily given a DNA Elimination sample and be subject of enhanced vetting.

Security Clearance

⚠ This role requires British Nationality (some dual nationalities may be ineligible) and a Security Check vetting clearance. You must be willing to undergo Developed Vetting.

You will need to undergo additional security clearance checks, with the offer of employment being conditional on obtaining all of the necessary security clearances.

There are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries once in post.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and Inclusion Vision: Maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities, whilst protecting them from harm

We are a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions. As part of our commitment we operate a "Disability Confident Interview Scheme" – all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.

It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as high‑volume, seasonal and high‑peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non‑disabled people. In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non‑disabled applicants.

Advertisement Closing Date

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if the maximum volume of applications has been reached. Candidates with unsubmitted applications will not be informed prior to the advert closing.

Please do not attach a CV/covering letter as these will not be used during the application process.