Hamilton
Job Summary
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner is currently seeking to recruit INVESTIGATORS to join her team who are based in Hamilton.
The PIRC was established in 2013 and is responsible for carrying out independent investigations into incidents involving the police and independently review the way the police handle complaints from the public.
Our aim is to secure public confidence in policing in Scotland by supporting continuous improvement and promoting positive change.
You will join an investigations team who will support the Commissioner and Head of Investigations in carrying out effective and efficient investigations into serious incidents involving the police in Scotland. These can include investigations into deaths in police custody, death or serious injury following contact with the police or of criminal allegations against the police. You will be required to be on-call, on a rota basis, and be prepared to work unsocial and extended hours and be prepared for overnight stays away from home, where required. An additional remuneration allowance is payable for this work.
As an Investigator reporting to a Deputy Senior Investigator, you will be a member of a team carrying out independent investigations into the most significant incidents concerning the delivery of policing in Scotland.
Job Description
Specific Duties:
Undertake thorough and efficient investigations under the Act and associated Regulations in accordance with agreed standard operating procedures, protocols and guidelines.
Obtain witness statements, conduct interviews and prepare reports for the Commissioner, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, SPA and policing bodies operating in Scotland as required. Attend court, misconduct or other hearings for the purpose of giving evidence.
Visit incident locations and assist with scene management, ensuring that all necessary action is taken to preserve and recover evidence where appropriate on the instruction of the Senior Investigator.
Contribute to the provision of a 24-hour on-call facility and be prepared to work unsocial and extended hours or shifts if required.
Substantial travel may be involved throughout Scotland and the UK with some overnight stays away from home depending on the demands of the role.
Ensure that all productions relating to enquiries are seized, recorded and lodged in accordance with procedures
Liaise with police and other agency personnel as required.
Carry out any other duties commensurate with the role as instructed by line managers or as dictated by circumstances.
Specific Duties
Undertake thorough and efficient investigations under the Act and associated Regulations in accordance with agreed standard operating procedures, protocols and guidelines.
Obtain witness statements, conduct interviews and prepare reports for the Commissioner, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, SPA and policing bodies operating in Scotland as required. Attend court, misconduct or other hearings for the purpose of giving evidence.
Visit incident locations and assist with scene management, ensuring that all necessary action is taken to preserve and recover evidence where appropriate on the instruction of the Senior Investigator.
Contribute to the provision of a 24-hour on-call facility and be prepared to work unsocial and extended hours or shifts if required.
Substantial travel may be involved throughout Scotland and the UK with some overnight stays away from home depending on the demands of the role.
Ensure that all productions relating to enquiries are seized, recorded and lodged in accordance with procedures
Liaise with police and other agency personnel as required.
Carry out any other duties commensurate with the role as instructed by line managers or as dictated by circumstances.
Person specification
Success profile
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.
Experience
Investigatory experience, or a background in an inspection, regulatory, enforcement of similar role.
A strong analytical approach, keen eye for detail when gathering evidence,
Experience of conducting interviews
An ability to analyse and present information with well-developed critical thinking skills,
An ability to obtain information and use sound judgement to reach conclusions.
This experience may have been gained within organisations other than the police service and we would welcome applications from candidates with relevant experience from other organisations.
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing – Level 3
Working together – Level 3
Making effective decisions – Level 3
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here
Security Checks
The successful candidate must undergo Non-Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV) Level 3 and Baseline Personal Security Scotland (BPSS) prior to appointment. Please see here to ensure you are aware of the requirements prior to submitting an application. Applicants should be aware that they are required to have lived in the United Kingdom for at least 3 years to meet the first element of the vetting requirements.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Making Effective Decisions
Alongside your salary of £38,422, Police Investigations and Review Commissioner contributes £11,130 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Hybrid working
Flexible working
25 days of annual leave
5 privilege days
6 public holidays
Pension with generous employer contribution
Competitive pay for sickness, maternity & paternity leave
Access to Edenred My Lifestyle discount site
Access to Employee Assistance Service
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Apply online, you must provide a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profiles above.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.
Successful applicants will be invited for further assessment; this will consist of an interview and scenario-based presentation.
We will provide feedback on request to candidates who attend an interview/assessment.
The closing date for applications is midnight on Tuesday 24th February 2026
Please continue to check your account on our recruitment portal as all applicants will have the status of the application updated on their account.
Please note we are unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups
UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
Name : PIRC HR Team
Email :
Telephone :
Recruitment team
Email :
Further information