Information about the role of a criminal use of firearms specialist, including the role purpose, key responsibilities and the skills required.
About the role
A criminal use of firearms specialist sits within the investigation sector of policing. It's a service deliverer role in the policing professional profiles.
Role purpose
The criminal use of firearms specialist provides independent and impartial specialist advice about the criminal use and trafficking of firearms within their own field of knowledge and experience to support firearms-related investigations.
Key responsibilities
Key responsibility statements show the accountabilities for someone in this role. They focus on what is done, not how it is done.
- Providing independent and impartial specialist advice within their own field of knowledge and experience to support firearms-related investigations.
- Where not within their own remit, signposting others to appropriate advisers to ensure advice is provided by properly accredited and experienced advisers (for example, forensic science).
- Reviewing all documentary material and physical exhibits provided by the investigator, seeking clarification and additional information or material where required to ensure the correct advice is given.
- Producing timely, accurate and proportional documents and reports setting out findings and outlining conclusions in line with the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 part 19.4, Attorney General’s Guidelines on Disclosure 2024 and other legislation or regulations to support the criminal justice process.
- Conducting practice in line with the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 and Criminal Practice Direction 2023, CPS Guidance on Expert Evidence, CPS Guidance for Experts on Disclosure Unused Material and Case Management, and relevant case law to ensure that cases are dealt with justly.
- Submitting own reports for peer review and undertaking peer reviews of the reports of others to ensure they are factually correct, and opinions offered are justifiable.
- Engaging with professional bodies and others to contribute to and share best available practice and improve the overall quality of firearms specialist advice and evidence.
- Attending court as an expert witness to give testimony of opinion to support the criminal justice process.
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 ensures that there is consistency throughout all the policing professional profiles. Some roles may contain different CVF levels due to the specialist nature of the role. Those working at higher levels should also fulfil the requirements of the lower levels.
This role should be operating at or working towards the following competencies.
- We are emotionally aware – Level 1: practitioner
- We take ownership – Level 1: practitioner
- We collaborate – Level 1: practitioner
- We support and inspire – Level 1: practitioner
- We analyse critically – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We are innovative and open-minded – Level 1: practitioner
Values
The CVF has three values that 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 1
- Problem solving – Level 1
- Performance management – Level 1
- Relationship management – Level 1
- Change management – Level 1
- Managing people – Level 1
- Managing resources – Level 1
- Planning – Level 1
- Use of IT – Level 1
Education, qualifications and experience
Previous education, qualifications and experience
- Demonstrable operational knowledge and experience gained through day-to-day policing or other similar role which demonstrates a strong understanding of criminal use and firearms trafficking markets and/or a specialist area within it.
- Operational knowledge and experience of the rules of evidence and disclosure (CPIA and Attorney General’s Guidelines), and of developing files of evidence for crown court.
- Knowledge of relevant law, guidance and policy in relation to firearms, imitation firearms, and ammunition.
- Experience of writing detailed reports and critiquing own work.
- Undertaken training in attending court and presenting evidence of opinion as an expert witness.
In-role education, qualifications and experience
- None specified.
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
- Complete all core training and learning as required by the force.
- 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:
- maintaining knowledge of new and developing legislation, relevant stated cases, and changes to the FSR code of practice and current national policing priorities
- maintaining knowledge and understanding of new approaches to evidence-based policing, including engagement with academics and others to support research if requested, and synthesising these into working practice
- building formal and informal professional networks, for example, through membership of relevant professional bodies
- engaging with academic evidence base and best available practice to develop own specialist area of knowledge, for example, criminal use and trafficking of firearms
Related roles
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