Information about the role of a drug specialist, including the role purpose, key responsibilities and the skills required.
About the role
A drug specialist sits within the investigation sector of policing. It's a service deliverer role in the policing professional profiles.
Role purpose
The drug specialist provides independent and impartial specialist advice to investigations and investigators about drug evidence and offences, including reviewing evidential material in cases that relate to complex drug matters and providing impartial evidence about drug evidence and offences, including evidence of opinion, to the court as required.
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 own field of knowledge and experience to support drug-related investigations.
- Handling exhibits from investigations in line with agreed standard operating procedures to maintain the integrity, continuity and security of the evidence, whilst taking health and safety into account for the purpose of investigative processes and court proceedings.
- Reviewing all documentary material and physical exhibits provided by the investigating officer or team, 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 and Investigations Act (CPIA) section 19.4, Attorney General's Guidelines 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 2019, 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 in accordance with nationally agreed standard operating procedures to ensure they are factually correct, and opinions offered are justifiable.
- Engaging with standard operating procedures, academic evidence-base and best available practice to develop own specialist area of knowledge, for example, drugs market, yields.
- Engaging with professional bodies and others to contribute to, and share, best available practice and improve the overall quality of drugs 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 drug 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.
- Experience of writing detailed reports and critiquing own work.
- Successful completion of training in attending court and presenting evidence of opinion as an expert witness.
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:
- developing and maintaining a current competence and working knowledge around drug markets and/or area of specialism
- giving and receiving mentoring and coaching from colleagues and other specialists
- maintaining knowledge of applicable legislation
- building professional networks through membership of relevant professional bodies
Related roles
You can find other service deliverer roles in the: