Grade: Band E

Salary: £40,719 to £47,826

Closing Date: 19th July 2019

About the role:

West Midlands Police is committed to openness and transparency and the Information Management Department is looking for an enthusiastic individual to be the Force Crime Registrar.

Each force has a crime registrar who is responsible for overseeing compliance with the crime recording process. He or she is the final arbiter for the force when deciding whether or not to record a crime or make a decision to cancel a crime. The registrar’s responsibilities include educating staff in the crime recording process and conducting audits to check compliance with the rules.

Reporting to the Assistant Director: Information Management, applicants will need excellent verbal, written and communication skills.

The successful candidate will work with senior leaders within West Midlands Police to ensure a victim focused approach to crime recording. The successful candidate will be supported by a deputy and a team of Compliance and Audit Officers who provide specialist support to operational staff on the application of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS), the Home Office Counting Rules (HOCR) for crime and the National Standard for Incident Recording (NSIR). 

The successful candidate will ensure areas of organisational learning are identified and effective solutions implemented across the organisation.

We are seeking a highly motivated individual with strong problem solving, communication and relationship building skills with the personal credibility to influence at all levels. The role requires College of Policing accreditation and you will be supported to attend the course and complete workplace accreditation within your first 12 months. Proven experience of decision making and managing and developing teams is essential whilst experience of working to support victims and knowledge of the Home Office Counting Rules is desirable. 

Specific Role Purpose:   

The Home Office directs that each police force must appoint a Force Crime Registrar (FCR) to act as final arbiter for the audit process, the interpretation of the Home Office counting rules and assigning outcomes. The role of the FCR is to ensure NCRS and HOCR standards are applied with consistency both locally and nationally.  The FCR is also responsible for overseeing and securing crime recording improvements in line with HMICFRS CDI recommendations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead on the development, implementation, monitoring and audit of crime recording and `Outcome` policies, procedures and programmes and present to  Chief Officers any issues of quality and compliance within the force in order to influence robust working practices. 

• As the Force strategic lead in relation to the National Crime Recording Standards (NCRS), provide specialist advice to Chief Officer Group and beyond to ensure focus on crime recording priorities and management of associated risk. Provide guidance to PCC as requested in relation to NCRS compliance and associated risks.

• Represent and protect the interests and reputation of the Force to the Home Office, HMIC and other key stakeholders at regional and national level as the recognised force expert for crime recording matters

• To understand all the routes (or channels) through which crime is reported to a force, the volumes of crime involved and the specific crime recording attrition (failure) risks associated with each route.

• Maintain and publish up-to-date guidance on crime recording, ensuring force systems, policy and processes comply with national requirements taking corrective action where required to ensure the force’s statutory obligations are met.

• As the Force strategic lead in relation to the National Crime Recording Standards develop a strategic audit programme in relation to identified NCRS risks.  Undertake and direct both planned and spontaneous audits on key aspects of crime recording and `Outcome` data, to ensure accuracy, and integrity and report directly to the Deputy Chief Constable with results and recommendations. Write, amend and implement the appropriate policies and procedures for force-wide adoption.

• Act as final arbiter on behalf of the force on all aspects of decision making both for the initial recording of crime, final disposal `Outcomes` and authority to `cancel’ serious crime e.g. rapes and other serious sexual offences, and issues involving Professional standards.

• Work with relevant stakeholders to ensure appropriate training to staff at all levels on the interpretation of HOCR / NCRS, including student officers, Force Control Centre staff and senior investigators.

• Lead on the implementation of recommendations from external reviews by HMIC in relation to crime recording and crime management issues.

• Devise, implement, monitor and audit processes to ensure the prompt, effective and accurate communication and circulation to the force of changes to Home Office Counting Rules, recording standards and related policy and legislation.

• To identify and notify the Chief Constable of any unethical crime recording practices that undermine the Force’s statutory obligations, professional reputation, service to victims of crime and compliance with the code of ethics.

• Personally responsible for crime recording decisions where the Home Office requirements specify that the function must be carried out by a College of Policing Accredited Force Crime Registrar.

Knowledge & Experience:

Essential:

• A current and detailed knowledge of Home Office Counting Rules (HOCR) and their application in operational crime investigation. 
• Previous experience in auditing/case review.
• A sound knowledge and experience of the use of problem solving skills in relation to data and management information.
• A good knowledge and experience of the Police Service and particularly of matters relating to offence interpretation and analysis.
• Substantial experience in audit techniques, preparation of audit aims, methodology and delivery of results to Chief Officers and Office of Policing and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).
• Must complete and pass the College of Policing “National Accreditation” course and be confirmed as ‘operationally competent’ to be listed on the Home Office Professional Register” within 12 months of appointment, if not already held.

Desirable: 

• A knowledge of the Crimes 5 and Oasis command and control system

Skills:

Essential:

• Effective leadership, interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong ability to influence at senior leadership level
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of policy and procedure in crime and incident recording and Home Office Counting Rules.
• Self-motivated and demonstrates the ability to work unsupervised, deal with conflicting priorities and produce high quality work.
• Demonstrate high quality written and verbal communications skills with the ability to adjust communication style according to the audience.
• Proficient in gathering, interpreting and presenting data and statistics to all levels within the force

West Midlands Police are currently undertaking a long term review of staff pay and conditions.  The grade, pay and other terms of employment are therefore subject to review and may change in the future. 

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