Researcher - Harm Reduction Team (HaRT)

Job Introduction

Salary: £31,736.51 per annum 

Contract Type: FTC - Until 31st March 2029

Location: To be based at one of our main hubs (London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow or Cardiff). An additional London Allowance of £4,613.61 payable to London based candidates only.

Type of Working Arrangement: Blended approach of home and office-working is available

Hours: This is full-time role (37 hours per week) 

British Transport Police (BTP) is the national police force for the rail network throughout Great Britain. We are the ‘Guardians of the Railway,’ putting passenger safety at the heart of what we do. Our values are simply: We Care, We Do the Right Thing, We Strive to Be Better Every Day, We Are One BTP, and We Are Proud to Protect. Join us and help create an environment where we can all be our best every day.

The Opportunity: 

British Transport Police have an opportunity for a HaRT Researcher to join the Harm Reduction Team.

As a HaRT Researcher with BTP, you will play a key role in gathering, assessing and interpreting information relating to vulnerable and high‑risk individuals, supporting the Force’s approach to early intervention and harm reduction.

You will identify patterns, prioritise risk and provide accurate, timely intelligence to inform safeguarding actions, operational decision‑making and multi‑agency interventions. Working closely with internal teams and external partners, you will contribute to ensuring that individuals at risk receive appropriate support and that information is used effectively to reduce harm across the network.

What you'll be doing:   

• Evaluating, validating and managing intelligence reports, ensuring accurate recording and timely dissemination in line with relevant frameworks and legislation
• Identifying intelligence gaps and proactively developing opportunities to strengthen intelligence gathering and inform operational priorities
• Conducting research and analysis using multiple sources to produce high‑quality intelligence and support decision‑making at strategic, tactical and operational levels
• Producing clear reports, briefings and intelligence products to support policing activity and safeguard vulnerable individuals
• Building and maintaining effective relationships with internal teams and external partners to support collaboration and information sharing
• Supporting operational activity, including major incidents, and ensuring compliance with all relevant legal frameworks, policies and 

What you'll bring to the team:  

Qualifications & Training

• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or equivalent qualification/experience

Experience

• Experience of conducting qualitative and quantitative research
• Experience of communicating complex information clearly to a range of audiences

Skills

• Strong ability to analyse and interpret large volumes of data, producing clear, evidence‑based outputs
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to a range of audiences
• Competent in using IT systems, databases and analytical tools
• Effective organisation and time management, with the ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines

Knowledge

• Working knowledge of relevant legislation and frameworks, such as RIPA/IPA, GDPR and MoPI
• Awareness of the Intelligence Professionalisation Programme (IPP)

Further information about this vacancy can be found in the attached job description.

What we offer:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
• Family-friendly policies, including up to 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave.
• Bespoke benefits platform and Blue Light Card access.
• Salary sacrifice options for cycles, home technology, gym membership, and electric vehicles.
• Access to the Transport Benevolent Fund for health, welfare, and financial support.
• Development opportunities, including fully funded apprenticeships.
• Excellent Pension scheme:  We offer the BTP GPP Police Staff Pension Scheme, administered by Royal London. This group personal pension plan is available to all police staff and is a defined contribution scheme. It provides the flexibility to vary your pension contributions from 4.4% to 12% of your salary. For more information, visit the Royal London dedicated pension page or email us at Pension-Queries@btp.police.uk. Note: If you are an existing member of Police Staff in the RPS, your pension will not be affected.

How to apply:

Applications will be via an up-to-date CV and online application form, as part of this application please outline how your skills and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role. 

Completed applications must be submitted by 11.59pm, 6 July 2026

Vetting: Successful applicants will be required to pass Recruitment/Management Vetting (3/5 years minimum UK residency required), including a full background and financial disclosure. For more information and Top Tips, please see attached document. 

Medical: We’ll ask for relevant health and medical history details to support employee wellbeing.  

References: We'll ask for references to cover the past 5 years.

Inclusion & Diversity

We are committed to building a workforce where everyone feels they belong. 

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences. Diversity strengthens our teams, improves our services and helps us better represent and support the communities we serve. 

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and strive to create a workplace that is fair, respectful and accessible to all. We actively work to challenge discrimination, remove barriers and ensure equity throughout our recruitment and employment practices. 

If you need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment or selection process, please let us know - we are happy to support you. Your talent, your potential, and your unique perspective matter here. 

For more information on Inclusion or the Disability Confident Scheme, please click the links Inclusion & Diversity Disability Confident Scheme

Join Us:
Ready to take the next step in your career? At BTP, you’ll have the opportunity to grow, make a real impact, and be part of something extraordinary.

Find out why BTP could be the perfect fit for you - About Us - British Transport Police

Curious about what life at BTP is really like? Hear directly from our people and discover what makes working here so rewarding. Explore real stories on our blog: Our Stories - British Transport Police

For further information, please contact our Resourcing Team -RecruitmentTeam@btp.police.uk.

AI can be a useful tool to spark ideas or help you organise your thoughts, but when it comes to your application, we want to hear from you, not an algorithm. What truly stands out to us are genuine stories, personal insights and the experiences that have shaped who you are. Authenticity matters - it helps us understand your motivations, your strengths and how you’ll contribute to our team. So, use AI if it helps you get started, but let your own voice lead the way. 

The above advert, Job description and Application process is available through the medium of Welsh - if requested.