Information about the role of a communications data investigations manager, including the role purpose, key responsibilities and the skills required.
About the role
A communications data investigations manager is a digital and cybercrime position within the investigation sector of policing. It's a team leader role in the policing professional profiles.
Role purpose
The communications data investigations manager is the operational and tactical manager of a team of communications data investigators, and advises investigation and intelligence teams, analysts, and general applicants on policy, legislation and data recovery in order to meet operational strategies.
Key responsibilities
- Ensuring effective day-to-day performance of the unit, ensuring that the strategic direction set by the senior responsible officer (SRO) of the unit is followed.
- Managing the performance and development of individual members of a team, to develop an effective team who can deliver against communications data targets.
- Supporting and guiding the team on the careful acquisition of communications data and processing of potentially sensitive applications, so that they are inspired and motivated to conduct their work within established procedures and legislation.
- Planning, budgeting, and recruiting the resourcing of a team to enable the appropriate level of capacity in the unit to fulfil investigations.
- Guiding the team to organise and collect information required for any audits or inspections, and ensuring that recommendations are addressed and implemented as appropriate.
- Reporting to senior management on operational performance and issues, via relevant chain of command, to update them on communications investigations, and to support strategic management and planning.
- Contributing to service improvement by reviewing how procedures can be developed, and providing feedback to managers on what works and what could be improved, to support the continued improvement of policing.
- Providing specialist knowledge in communications investigations across all levels of the organisation, to share expertise and good practice, and increase understanding of communications data investigations processes.
- Preparing and proactively circulating relevant advice to senior investigating officers and professional forensic experts, to provide a professional service and maintain integrity when dealing with sensitive issues.
- Maintaining and managing the force workflow system to ensure that it is up to date, follows good practice, and is compliant with relevant legislation.
Competencies, values and core skills
The competency and values framework (CVF) provides clear expectations for everyone working in policing. It describes the behaviours required by police officers and staff to be effective in their roles and uphold the Code of Ethics for policing.
Competencies
The CVF has six competencies, which are split into levels. These levels can be used flexibly to allow for a better fit with frontline and non-frontline policing roles, and at different levels of seniority.
This role should be operating at or working towards the following competencies.
- We are emotionally aware – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We take ownership – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We collaborate – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We support and inspire – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We analyse critically – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We are innovative and open-minded – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
Values
The CVF has three values. These values apply to everyone in policing, regardless of their role or seniority.
Core skills
All roles in policing have nine core skills in common. These are split into levels that represent the different levels of policing.
This role should be operating at or working towards the following core skills.
- Communicating and influencing – Level 2
- Problem solving – Level 2
- Performance management – Level 2
- Relationship management – Level 2
- Change management – Level 2
- Managing people – Level 2
- Managing resources – Level 2
- Planning – Level 2
- Use of IT – Level 2
Education, qualifications and experience
- Up-to-date knowledge of communications data acquisition.
- Up-to-date legislation knowledge (including current guidance on disclosure) and current national policing priorities.
- Working knowledge of emerging technologies and relevant updates from service providers.
- Understanding of how to exploit new methodologies for gaining communications data within the parameters of the law.
- Understanding of Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) codes of practice on acquisition of communications data.
In-role education, qualifications and experience
- Completion of communications data investigations (CDI) single point of contact (SPoC) accreditation is desirable.
- First line leaders National Centre for Police Leadership.
Continuing professional development
Continuing professional development (CPD) enables everyone in policing to develop and gain recognition for their professional skills, knowledge and competence.
CPD ensures that we continue to provide high-quality policing to keep the public safe and help to drive career aspirations. Discussion of CPD is usually included as part of professional development review (PDR) conversations.
Learning and accreditation
- Home Office and College of Policing register for CDI SPoC accreditation.
- Any exemptions to learning and accreditation requirements are at chief constable discretion, in line with the local force policy.
Professional development
This role should consider the following CPD:
- staying up to date with the changing landscape of communications data acquisition
- being aware of any changes to legislation that may affect communications data work
- keeping up to date with changing legislation (including current guidance on disclosure) and current national policing priorities
- keeping up to date with new approaches to evidence-based policing and applying these to working practices
- developing a working knowledge of emerging technologies and staying apprised of any updates from service providers
- exploiting new methodologies of gaining communications data within the parameters of the law
- taking responsibility for sharing and cascading knowledge with colleagues, to upskill as appropriate
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