Summary

Can you deliver justice? CPS Proceeds of Crime (POC) are looking for Senior Crown Prosecutors to join their dynamic workforce.

CPS POC conduct all CPS restraint casework, complex confiscation proceedings, and enforcement of orders where they can add their expertise, as well as handling incoming international asset recovery requests. POC provides a key resource across law enforcement and the Criminal Justice System in tackling the proceeds of crime.

As a Senior Crown Prosecutor (SCP) within POC, you will provide justice to victims and you will have the freedom to use your judgement and have a very real impact on society. Your work will be both challenging and varied in nature which may involve tasks such as advising on and applying for restraint of assets and confiscation. We also enforce confiscation orders and conduct the work required to carry out requests made by other countries in compliance with our international obligations.

You will provide specialist advice on proceeds of crime work throughout the proceedings, including before charge, and after conviction. There will be some opportunities to present proceeds of crime cases in the magistrates’ and higher courts, as well as instructing counsel to do so. You will be expected to have up to date knowledge of proceeds of crime law, and criminal law generally.

Please note, Candidates must have the below essential experience

Post Qualification experience.

The postholder should have a working knowledge of the law relating to the restraint and confiscation of assets, including enforcement of confiscation order.

Establishes credibility and earns respect by depth of knowledge and influences others on the basis of specialist knowledge.

Candidates will also be required to have the below Technical Skill

Legally Qualified: The post holder must be a Qualified barrister or solicitor, holding a valid practising certificate for

England and Wales or be eligible to obtain one issued from either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board.

We are running a Meet and Engage Session as well as an Application Workshop for this campaign. These sessions are designed to help candidates with the recruitment process and provide further information regarding assessment criteria. Further details on this can be found in the Selection Process Details section below.

For further information on how to apply, please see the Candidate Pack at the bottom of this page.

Excess fares will not apply.

Job description

CPS Proceeds of Crime (POC) is at the forefront of the fight against Economic Crime, ensuring that criminal assets are restrained, confiscated and enforced so that criminals do not benefit from their ill-gotten gains. We are also working with law enforcement colleagues to use new civil recovery powers to target unexplained wealth.

The postholder will be required to consider cases fairly in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. The purpose of this role is to advise on and prepare specialist cases for CPS Proceeds of Crime (POC) prosecution. The postholder will be responsible for casework categorised as “low” to “medium” in the complexity matrix relevant to the work of the specialism.

The postholder will have a caseload of restraint and confiscation work on the Pre-Enforcement Teams, or enforcement casework on the National Enforcement Unit

Postholders will be responsible for their own caseload - advising investigators, reviewing case files, conducting proceedings and providing legal advice on cases to be presented in the Magistrates', Crown and High Courts.

The postholder will analyse, review, prepare and present a wide range of restraint, confiscation and enforcement cases, and will be expected to have up-to-date knowledge of asset recovery law. The postholder will have a high volume of casework in respect of advice and review, which will include some of the more challenging, serious and sensitive cases. There will be scope for some advocacy in the Magistrates’ court and in the Crown Court.

Subject to the postholder satisfying the “general qualification” provision within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Service Act 1990, the post is designated by the Director of Public Prosecutions as a Crown Prosecutor under the terms of section 1 (3) of the prosecution of Offences Act (1985).

Responsibilities

To conduct discussions with law enforcement authorities (LEAs) on the evidential requirements for restraint, confiscation and enforcement applications. To review cases where applications will be made to the Magistrates, Crown and High courts, decide whether it is appropriate to make the application and to decide on the terms of the application. CPS POC makes applications for restraint, receivership, confiscation and reconsideration of confiscation orders.

To demonstrate high levels of advocacy, media handling, written and oral communication skills in relation to all cases for which the postholder is accountable so as to maintain public confidence in the prosecution process.

To undertake advocacy in relation to Magistrates Court and Crown Court applications when appropriate.

To make decisions relating to applications for restraint, confiscation and enforcement and whether to accept any defence proposals offered; when to change a previously prepared course of action; when to withdraw or compromise applications and whether to apply for compensation or costs.

To deal effectively and persuasively with a wide range of people, both within and outside the CPS, as part of a multi-skilled team and on an individual basis in order to ensure effective and successful applications. To seek improvement by assessing and sharing lessons with others.

Qualifications

Legally Qualified: The post holder must be a qualified practising solicitor or barrister and must hold a valid Practising Certificate for England and Wales.

Academic: Law degree, Common Professional Examination, Graduate Diploma in Law.

Professional: Legal Practice Course or Bar Professional Training Course and have completed the relevant pupillage and training contract (or have received full exemption from the relevant professional regulatory body, either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board).

OR

If you have qualified through Cilex could you please contact us in order to establish your eligibility for this role.

If you apply AND are found not to possess any of the above any offer of employment will be withdrawn, or contract terminated.

Please note the qualification as stated is required for this role and equivalent qualifications will not be accepted.

If you are unsure about your eligibility please contact melissa.fairclough@cps.gov.uk

Memberships

The successful applicant must have a valid practising certificate for England and Wales or be eligible to obtain a valid practising certificate issued from either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board.

If CILEx qualified, must hold a ‘general qualification’ within the meaning of s.71 (3) (c) Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Legally Qualified: The post holder must be a Qualified barrister or solicitor, holding a valid practising certificate for England and Wales or be eligible to obtain one issued from either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board

Benefits

Employee Wellbeing Support, such as Mental Health First Aiders & Allies, Free Health Checks, Workplace Wellness Courses, and Healthcare access

• Volunteering Leave

• Cycle2Work scheme, Bike, Parking and Season Ticket Loans

• Access to CPS Reward Schemes

• Flexible Working and a family friendly approach to work

• Childcare vouchers outside and in addition to Government Tax Free Childcare Scheme

• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and 1 privilege day

• Civil Service Pension

Working for the Crown Prosecution Service you will also gain access to a range of learning and development activities, including through Civil Service Learning and an individual learning account in addition to any central and local development opportunities and requirements.

This is a full-time post. However, requests for flexible and part-time will be considered, considering at all times the operational needs of the Department.

Candidates who are recommended by the selection panel but not appointed to the current vacancy will be placed on a waiting list for 12 months and may be offered another post, should any further vacancies for a Senior Crown Prosecutor arise in CPS Proceeds of Crime during this period. CPS may also approach candidates on the waiting list to fill other CPS Proceeds of Crime roles requiring similar knowledge and experience.

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

The recruitment process will consist of an online application, interview and assessment. The assessments will be held on the 21st March 2022 and interviews will be held on the 31st March 2022.

Please note, Candidates who are successful at shortlist stage will be invited to complete an assessment, only those who pass the assessment will be invited to an interview.

Due to the current Covid-19 situation, your interview will be conducted via Video. A member of our recruitment team will be in touch with further guidance. If you have any queries about this please contact the CPS Recruitment Team at Strategic.Resourcing@cps.gov.uk

You should keep these dates free or notify us if you are not available. We will make every effort to accommodate you in your preference for dates; however we cannot guarantee that they will be met.

The successful applicant will be required to secure DBS & SC clearance; to speed up this process; you should bring 3 forms of ID with you on the day of interview. Data gathered from unsuccessful candidates will be destroyed in accordance with our Data Retention Policy.

If successful in obtaining an interview you will be asked to complete the Character Enquiry Form, Nationality and Immigration Questionnaire and National Security Vetting Form.

(If you are an internal member of staff, you will not be required to undergo this DBS check as you will already hold this clearance)

Personal Statement (using the text box provided online)

You will also be asked to complete a personal statement of no more than 1250 words setting out how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience, match the requirements as detailed in the Candidate Pack. You will also need to address the core behaviours for this role, detailed in the Behaviours Section of the Candidate Pack, which are;

1. Making Effective Decisions

2. Communicating and Influencing

3. Working Together

4. Delivering at Pace

In addition, you will need to demonstrate the following experience/technical skills required for this role, detailed in the Experience/Technical Section of the Candidate Pack, which are:

• Post Qualification experience.

• The postholder should have a working knowledge of the law relating to the restraint and confiscation of assets, including enforcement of confiscation order.

• Establishes credibility and earns respect by depth of knowledge and influences others on the basis of specialist knowledge.

• Legally Qualified: The post holder must be a Qualified barrister or solicitor, holding a valid practising certificate for England and Wales or be eligible to obtain one issued from either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board.

CV Section (using the text boxes provided online)

You will not be required to upload your CV however, when submitting your application there is a ‘CV section.’ You will be required to provide information regarding your skills, employment history and qualification details.

Please note that it is the candidate’s responsibility to provide the specified application information in the requested format to ensure that they are considered for the post.

Meet and Engage session – Important Information

We will be holding a series of webchats whilst the campaign is live, and you can register for these via the links below:

These sessions will be available for candidates to ask any questions regarding this campaign. There will be delegates on hand from CPS to answer any queries candidates may have.

Application Workshop - Important Information

We will also be holding an application workshop online, inviting candidates to join us between 4:30pm to 6:30pm on Wednesday 15th December 2021. This workshop will be presented by colleagues within Proceeds of Crime, who will cover topics such as the Application, Assessment, and also talk about how to construct the best personal statement to submit for this campaign. These sessions have been hugely beneficial to candidates in the past, and provide feedback from previous campaigns, that candidates can use to improve their application prospects.

If you are interested in registering for this workshop, please email Laura.Cleary@cps.gov.uk and Melissa.Fairclough@cps.gov.uk by Monday 13th December 2021 and you will be sent a link to access the workshop via Microsoft Teams. You will only be able to attend if you register your interest, as this will mean a link is sent for access.

Civil Service Commissioners

From April 2018, the CPS will provide a Fair Processing Notice (FPN) to all new applicants after they have been successful at interview. These candidates will be informed that, as one aspect of pre-employment screening, their personal details – name, National Insurance Number and date of birth - will be checked against the Internal Fraud Database (IFD) and that anyone included on the IFD will be refused employment unless they can demonstrate exceptional circumstances.

The Strategic Resourcing team in the CPS will, on behalf of the vacancy holder, inform applicants when they are refused employment because of their inclusion in the IFD.

Feedback will not be provided until the vacancy is complete

If you are dissatisfied with the recruitment process and wish to make a complaint, please contact Strategic.Resourcing@cps.gov.uk with your concerns.

If you remain dissatisfied and wish to make a further complaint, please click on the following link to the Civil Service Commissioners complaints page https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/

Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles can be found here –

https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/

Details of the Civil Service Nationality Rules are located at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements. For the most up-to-date information on the requirements of working in the UK, please go to the UK Visas and Immigration website: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

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.

Apply and further information

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