What does the role involve
A Criminal Investigator uses a range of skills to investigate, build and progress criminal and financial tax investigations to tackle the most harmful tax cheats, ensuring nobody is beyond our reach.
The job is varied and interesting, from analysing material in the office, to going out undertaking arrests, searching premises, interviewing people under caution and giving evidence at court.
A Criminal Investigator always works within the Compliance Professional Standards.
How we work
Due to the nature of the work, a Criminal Investigator role is not a standard 9-5 position. You’ll be expected to work outside HMRC standard operating hours, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Your work pattern can change at short notice and at times you’ll have to work longer hours.
To recompense for this, the role is eligible for a Flexibility Payment, which is paid monthly in addition to the standard salary. By accepting the Flexibility Payment, you are agreeing that you will meet all attendance requirements.
Read more about the Flexibility Payment in the tabs below.
More detailed information regarding the Flexibility Payment can be found within our Criminal Investigator role advertisements.
Fraud Investigation Service:
Discover the role of a Criminal Investigator at HMRC
Fraud Investigation Service:
Flexibility Payments
In this video, three investigators discuss the flexible nature of their roles within HMRC. They explain the long, unpredictable hours and how being on-call and operational flexibility are compensated through Flexibility Payments.
Fraud Investigation Service: Criminal Investigator – Key skills and what makes the role exciting
Fraud Investigation Service: Criminal Investigator – Learning and Development
In this video, Umair, shares his insights into becoming a Criminal Investigator here at HMRC. He discusses the skills and training required to become an accredited Counter Fraud Specialist, along with the critical thinking and logical reasoning needed for the role. Umair emphasises the opportunities for personal and professional growth, the challenges of solving complex cases, and the importance of teamwork, ethics, and leadership.
Victoria’s blog
My name is Victoria, and I am a Criminal Investigator within the Fraud Investigation Service and work with the Individuals and Small Businesses team in Stratford. I joined as a Counter Fraud Apprentice and recently completed my training and assessments. I took this job because of my keen interest in investigation, I have a degree in Forensic Science with Criminology, so this line of work has always been my passion. The fact that this role had a mix of deskwork and outdoor work (called knocks) appealed to me the most. I liked the idea of being able to actually go out and catch criminals in addition to building a case.
This role is very dynamic, sometimes I can be at the office all day or out on a knock all day. The hours are flexible, but it really helps that I have the hybrid working option which means I have the option to work from home twice a week. I am usually given ample notice before having to go out on a knock. Due to the dynamic nature of the role I have to be flexible with my time, and HMRC compensates me for the level of flexibility required. Most days I work 9 to 5 but knock days will have earlier starts.
An office day usually involves all kinds of casework, like analysing material, speaking to witnesses, or preparing a casefile for the Crown Prosecution Service but going out on knocks can vary. I have been out to arrest and interview suspects at Police stations, obtain witness statements and conduct searches of premises. This really gave me the opportunity to put into practice what is taught during the foundation training.
To be a Criminal Investigator you need to be inquisitive, open minded and objective. Be prepared to deal with challenging situations and be able to adapt. You should have good teamwork skills, be organised, and have good communication skills (both written and verbal) and have good decision-making skills. These are just a few skills to have that I believe are key to being successful in this role but there are many other skills which you may have that can be applied in this role. What I like the most about this role is that every case is different and therefore I never get bored, I am constantly learning new things every day and networking with other colleagues in other teams when out on knocks.
In terms of support, throughout the entire apprenticeship program and even afterwards, I got loads of help from my Practical Training Officer (PTO), my manager and colleagues in my team. The training also prepared me well for the practical aspect of the role, and there are lots of opportunities to progress and do further training. If you are inquisitive, like solving puzzles and challenges, this could be the role for you.
Victoria – Criminal Investigator – Fraud Investigation Service HMRC
Utilising HMRC Powers
Investigate and gather evidence to build, progress and enhance criminal and financial investigations into attacks on our tax systems committed by individuals, corporate entities and organised crime groups.
Desk based duties
Analysing materials and preparing written and official documents, such as Search Warrants and Production Order applications, case files and reports whilst ensuring consistent high standards, in accordance with procedural and legislative requirements.
Search of premises
Searching premises under warrant or by statutory provision, seizure and detention of goods.
Applying laws as appropriate and always adhering to legislation and policy.
Undertake arrests
Conduct search of person and interview under caution. Diffusing potentially confrontational situations, whilst acting in accordance with legislation and policy.
Witness statements
Taking evidential witness statements from a variety of stakeholders, both internal and external. External stakeholders include the Police, Border Force, National Crime Agency, Crown Prosecutors and other Government Departments.
Decision making
Taking ownership and accountability for decisions and activities during investigations, subject to scrutiny and inspection by Higher and Senior Investigation Officers, the court system and external authorities.
Attend court
Giving evidence in criminal prosecutions and financial recovery hearings.
Surveillance
Undertaking surveillance.
About the training
To help you learn everything you need for the role, you’ll receive a comprehensive training programme. Roles are available for full-time and part-time working arrangements; however, you’ll need to be available full-time for the duration of the formal training events set out below.
This is a modularised programme consisting of 13 weeks training delivered over a minimum of 23 weeks, where you may have to work and stay away from home for periods of up to 2 weeks at a time, Monday to Friday (see more details under ‘Training locations’ below.)
You will complete stage 1 (2 weeks) and stage 2 (4 weeks) after which you will return to your team for a minimum of 12 weeks to consolidate your learning and commence working on criminal investigations. During this 12-week period there will be further training events that you will need to undertake (maximum of 4 weeks in total) which may further necessitate you to be away from home for a maximum of 1 week at a time.
You will then complete stage 3 (1 week) and stage 4 (2 weeks) before returning to your team.
There are breaks and time off built in, as it is essential that you attend all sessions ​on the programme you are allocated to.
Throughout the formal training and work on your team, you will undertake a Training Assessment Period (TAP). This will last for approximately 12 months from the start of your training. You will use the skills and knowledge you have gained during your learning on operational cases with full support.
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Types of training
Training consists of:
- Face to face training.
- Self-study digital learning packages.
- Trainer facilitation.
- Digital classroom events followed by workplace assessments.
Your learning includes:
- Legal powers available to a Criminal Investigator and how to use those powers.
- How to keep evidential records.
- Carrying out premises searches and evidence gathering.
- Planning for arrest and arrest procedure.
- Investigating, interviewing, post arrest interviews and taking third party witness statements.
- How to present evidence at court.
The qualifications
Successful applicants in England may be eligible for the Counter Fraud Investigator Apprenticeship (CFIA) and will work towards a Level 4 qualification awarded on completion of an ‘End Point Assessment’. This is completed after you have completed the TAP.
Applicants need to have achieved grades A-C or 9-4 in both GCSE Maths and English.
Any applicants who do not have, or can’t show that they have these qualifications, will need to attain Level 2 Functional Skills in both subjects by the end of the CFIA programme. HMRC will support you through this.
All successful applicants will work towards a Level 4 Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist (ACFS) qualification on successful completion of the programme. This includes those also eligible for the CFIA.
Training locations
Face to face training is unlikely to be available at your home office location and could be based anywhere in the UK. For this training it is likely that you will have to work and stay away from home for periods of up to two weeks at a time, Monday to Friday only. Where this is the case, hotel accommodation (where required) and travel and subsistence expenses will be met by HMRC.
There will also be weeks of digital training. For these weeks there will be no expectation of you being away from home overnight, but you may need to attend your local office.
Additionally
You’ll need to complete Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST) which requires a reasonable level of fitness. This will be refreshed, currently at a minimum of every 6 months but is under review.
About the payments
The Criminal Investigator role duties will require you to change your work pattern at short notice and work flexibly, both within HMRC standard hours and non-standard hours, as needed by the business. This requirement means the role is eligible for the Flexibility Payment.
The payment comprises of three levels which each buy a different type and quantity of flexibility and additional attendance.
The level of payment you can expect to receive may vary depending on the attendance requirements of Criminal Investigator role in the business area you’re assigned to.
Receipt of the Flexibility Payment is depending on successful completion of training. You’ll be eligible to receive payment at Level 1a when you successfully complete Phase 4 of the initial training programme and you’ll continue to receive payment at that level until you successfully complete the full Training and Assessment Period (TAP).
When you’ve completed TAP, it’s likely you’ll have to deliver other types of attendance in addition to that secured by Level 1a. For example, you may become eligible for Level 1b as well as Level 1a, or you may become eligible for Level 2. Your manager will confirm whether additional attendance will apply, and at what level(s), and they’ll give you advance notice so you have time to prepare.
Your eligibility for continued payment of the Flexibility Payment is subject to annual review. You must meet the commitments required by your payment level to continue receiving payment.
Flexible Payment levels are reviewed annually in line with business need and may be subject to change.
Level 1a Officer – £3,900
This payment level requires you to change your hours of attendance at short notice, or no notice, a minimum of 75 times annually, with no upper limit, to meet operational demand. This includes night-time, weekends, and public holidays.
You need to be contactable when off duty, to be advised of changes to planned attendance, either directly or via a pre-agreed channel to be acknowledged as soon as possible.
Level 1b Officer – £1,900
This payment level requires you to be “On-Call”. You’ll need to be immediately contactable, able to provide advice and where required, be immediately available to work or attend a given location. On-Call applies at all hours during specified off duty periods including weekends and public holidays.
You need to be On-Call 1 week in 4, each On-Call week lasts for 7 days.
Level 2 Officer – £10,100 (National) £11,700 (London)
This payment level combines the flexibility and contactable elements of Level 1a and the On-Call coverage of Level 1b with 275 additional hours.
At all levels, the Flexibility Payment is subject to normal deductions for tax, national insurance and, where appropriate, pension contributions.
Examples of requirement
Change of duty –
You plan to work from 8am to 4pm. At 2pm, you’re asked to help a colleague on static surveillance and actually finish working at 9pm.
Contactable when off duty –
You are at home and off duty. At 8pm, your manager contacts you to advise that you are required to attend at 6am the following day. You would be expected to respond, acknowledging the change, within two to three hours, or at the point before you go to bed for the night.
On-Call –
During your On-Call week, you are off duty. At 1am you receive a call requiring you to attend immediately and assist colleagues to conduct a search.
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