Environmental Crime Officer

To work as part of the Gravesham Borough Council Environmental Enforcement Team tackling environmental crime through prevention, investigation, detection, and prosecution.

You will represent the council as an 'Authorised Officer' by exercising any of the delegated powers conferred by relevant acts of parliament relating to environmental crime and criminal behaviour.

The post holder will liaise with outside partners including other enforcement agencies, internal council departments and local authorities in order to tackle environmental crime. They will assist in proactive joint operations with internal departments and external agencies in order to carry out enforcement activities and provide reassurance to the community.

They will take statements from witnesses and interview suspects in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. They will ensure all actions taken in the investigation of cases are properly recorded. They will prepare timely and accurate reports and prosecution files and attend court to give evidence when required., Undertake a range of specialist tasks including:

• The initial investigation of environmental offences at scene.


• The issuing of Fixed Penalty and Enforcement Notices for low-level environmental offences.


• Collection, recording and storing of evidence.


• Investigation of complex and protracted enquiries involving multiple witnesses, offenders and offences.


• Taking statements from witnesses and obtaining CCTV evidence.


• Carrying out interviews of suspects under PACE regulations and codes of practice.


• Preparing case files for criminal court cases.


• The deployment of overt and covert camera resources.


• Carrying out pro-active, intelligence led, enforcement work.


• Support of street scene enforcement staff.


• Carrying out management support role in instances of absence.
  
  Recent and relevant experience of criminal investigation, including the writing of clear and concise statements and reports relating to the progress of investigations.


• Experience of working within the parameters of Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, CPIA and other legislation relating to evidence and procedure.


• Experience of carrying out enforcement action from low level, such as issuing fixed penalties and enforcement notices through to prosecution at Crown Court level.


• Experience of carrying out interviews of suspects under caution and in accordance with PACE codes of practice.


• Experience of preparing prosecution case papers.


• Experience of using computer equipment for the creation of reports and recording of investigation case records.


• Experience of working on their own and/or as part of a team.


• Demonstrable ability to apply practical/procedural/organisational/policy/ knowledge and turn that theory into practical solutions.


• Competence in the use of IT systems i.e. Microsoft Outlook, Word & Excel to record all aspects of an investigation, from the referral stages through to the preparation of case papers for prosecution.


• Experience in attending court and giving evidence.


• Demonstrable experience of partnership working.


• Knowledge and experience of using computer systems to submit and gather intelligence on any aspect of an investigation., Experience of delivering training to other officers


• Previous experience of having taken responsibility for the line management of others, with the ability to provide direction and take responsibility for team members' actions and errors.
  
  Centrally located in the Thames Gateway, Gravesham Borough Council provides a range of services to over 106,000 people and 4,000 businesses.


The Borough of Gravesham, situated in the north-west corner of Kent, covers 25,000 acres of the most varied countryside in south-east England.

Bordered by the River Thames to the north, it is at the heart of Thames Gateway and has a significant role to play in the regeneration of a major government growth area.

Gravesham Borough Council is committed to delivering to the community and by working with us it means you are part of delivering the level of growth and improvement our community needs and deserves.