ROCU is developing talent in technical specialist roles through using interns

More than 50 per cent of the interns employed by the ROCU have gone on to have full time roles in the techncial unit dealing with SOC.

The Yorkshire and Humber ROCU runs an internship programme where suitably skilled computer science graduates are chosen through an annual competition. Interns are attached to the Technical Development Unit (TDU) to work alongside permanent personnel and encouraged to use cutting-edge technology in tackling Serious Organised Crime (SOC).

TDU personnel have developed a programme being used to tackle SOC in a covert manner.

The ROCU reported that 56 percent of interns had gone on to full-time employment within the ROCU and the TDU was now fully staffed. Managers reported to HMIC that prior to the internship programme, it was a challenge to recruit into the role.

But the internship programme is restricted by the fact it is only funded for 12 months at a time. This funding model limits how how much the ROCU could plan opportunities with universities to identify new talent.

The York shire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit and its constituent forces should improve how the region procures and uses technical surveillance equipment HMICFRS have said in a regional SOC inspection.

The Unit and some regional forces have retained their own technical surveillance units. Most other serious and organised crime policing regions have collaborated on the provision of technical surveillance equipment. This aims to make sure that equipment is compatible and can be shared throughout the region.

In this region forces were buying some technical equipment, which is often expensive, independently of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional
Organised Crime Unit.