Firearms Officer Transferee; Constable

Overview

Are you an experienced Armed Response Vehicle Officer currently serving, or have previously served in a Home Office Force? Are you looking for greater opportunities to apply your specialist firearms training and take on a new challenge?

We are interested in hearing from experienced Armed Response Vehicle Officers, Specialist Firearms Officers, and Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers, who are motivated to utilise their skills in a dynamic and rewarding environment.

We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated and hard-working individuals to join our team where in return, we can offer you the opportunity to use and develop the skills you have been trained in. You will be joining a fair and inclusive team, based near Birmingham City Centre, where we serve in one of Europe s most diverse and challenging policing environments.

West Midlands Police Firearms Operations Unit is structured with Armed Response Vehicle Team s working a 24/7 shift pattern, Tactical Firearms Team and a nationally accredited training department.

West Midlands firearms officers undertake a large volume of both spontaneous and pre-planned armed deployments each year, and as such are one of the busiest Firearms units in the country. This is not a dual role function but firearms officers are tasked to support force tactical priorities including the targeting of Serious Organised Criminality and volume crime.

There are a number of developmental and career progression opportunities within the department, to include:
Firearms Tactical Advisor, Operational Firearms Commander, National Firearms Instructor, Close Protection Officer. As part of the national armed policing network, we offer a pathway towards Specialist Firearms Officer (SFO) and Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officer (CTSFO).

SFO and CTSFO roles currently attract a targeted variable payment in support of recruitment and retention - this can be varied or removed at the discretion of the Chief Constable.

• Application form
• Career discussion
• Firearms medical health and assessment screening
• Fitness test
• Qualification shoot (Tues 7th April & Mon 13th April)
• Vetting and pre-employment checks
• Final offer
• After transfer, a WMP conversion course (role dependent)

To apply, all applicants must:

• Be a serving (or have served) with a Home Office Force;
• Be an Armed Response Vehicle Officer, Specialist Firearms Officer or a CT Specialist Firearms Officer or trained to the National ARV Role Profile Standard in-line with the current National Police Firearms Training Curriculum;
• Be able to pass the 15-metre JRFT to bleep level 9.4 to 10.5, dependent on role profile;
• Be able to provide a fully auditable training record;
• Be able to pass the necessary vetting and medical health and assessment screening;
• Have no outstanding discipline or integrity issues.

Prospective officers and staff must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members of the public, therefore their right to privacy can be fettered in certain circumstances. This is to ensure that members of the police are fully aware and accountable for the unique powers entrusted to them and the standards of professional behaviour they swear to uphold.

CBRN is now part of the role profile for ARV officers, as such all officers not subject to Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) or reasonable adjustments must be clean-shaven when on operational ARV duties. Examples of EQIA protected characteristics include:

• Religion or Belief:
  The complete removal of facial hair may be incompatible with certain religious beliefs and observance of that faith. The wearing of religious headwear may not be possible with CBRN PPE, and therefore a requirement to wear CBRN PPE may be incompatible with observance of certain religions or faith.
• Disability and medical reason:
  Where a medical condition may affect an officer s ability to comply with the clean-shaven requirement, considerations will be given to exemptions supported by appropriate Occupational Health evidence. As being clean-shaven is an operational necessity for the effective use of CBRN PPE, exemptions…