Firearms Support Group Constable presso South Yorkshire Police

Role: Armed Response Vehicle Officer – Constable (ARVO)

Department: Operational Support Unit - Firearms Support Group

Rank: Police Constable

Hours: 40

Location: Operations Complex, Sheffield

Contract Type: Permanent

CURRENT AND PROJECTED VACANCIES – CONSTABLES – ARMED RESPONSE VEHICLE OFFICERS (ARV OFFICERS) – OPERATIONAL SUPPORT UNIT – FIREARMS SUPPORT GROUP

Applications are sought from substantive Constables to become Armed Response Vehicle Officers who need to be:

• Sound decision makers, especially when under pressure
• Able to negotiate in challenging situations
• Effective at diffusing situations
• Good listeners
• Able communicators

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform the role of Armed Response Vehicle Officer in support of spontaneous and planned firearms deployments on behalf of South Yorkshire Police.
• Maintain operational competence as an Armed Response Vehicle Officer, which includes achieving and maintaining fitness levels.
• Provide a key response in matters relating to counter terrorism, locally and nationally. Unless exempt all ARVO’s will be trained and online to provide a response to CBRN incidents and will be clean shaven including restrictions around face creams, gels, make-up and some types of jewellery. 
• Conduct investigations (when required) which will include interviewing suspects, victims and witnesses.
• Attend and preserve crime scenes at incidents to ensure that initial investigations are efficient and effective.
• Support the prevention of crime and disorder and to respond to calls from the public in line with the Forces’ Strategic Vision and the Plan on a Page.
• Conduct arrest and process procedures and complete prosecution case files.
• Deal with members of the public at all levels including confrontational and difficult circumstances.
• Use the National Decision-Making Model (NDM) in all decision making. 
• Promote equality, diversity and human rights in working practices and maintain standards of professional practice and behaviour. Provide a community response, recognising the needs of all our communities and provide a victim led service to all.
• Provide first aid and Tac Med when required.
• Be willing to qualify as an Operational Firearms Commander, Firearms Tactical Advisor or other specialist role if required while understanding that the Firearms Tactical Advisor will work at the FCR alongside the ITFC. 
• Work as part of a team and undertake other duties relevant to the role of Armed Response Vehicle Officer which may include other Policing duties.

In-role performance will include:

• Successfully complete the College of Policing licensed Initial Firearms Course for Armed Response Vehicle Officers and maintain accreditation in line with the National Police Firearms Training Curriculum.
• Attain and maintain operational competence as a Police Advanced Driver.
• Maintain a level of fitness to pass the JRFT to a level of 9.4 as required.
• Maintain a sound knowledge of the APP (Armed Policing) and relevant Standard Operating Procedures for the ARV Officer role and associated SOP’s. 
• Maintain a sound knowledge of Legislation and local policy and practice relating to firearms.
• Retain firearms-appropriate medical standard.
• Retain appropriate vetting level.
• Be prepared to work full 24/7 shifts at short notice according to the demands of the role.

For further information relating to the role and tasks of this position, please click here to view the role profile - If you are having trouble with the hyperlink, please right click, copy and paste in a separate window.

Recruitment Expectations:

• Satisfactory completion of probationary period
• Ability to complete the initial firearms course
• Potential to complete basic method of entry course
• Experience of completing self-generated work and initiatives
• Ability to pass OHU medical
• Achieve and maintain fitness level required to pass the firearms fitness test
• Be prepared to work full 24/shifts

Familiarisation Dates:

FSG will be holding several familiarisation sessions at the Ops Complex whilst the application stage is open.

Please email the Sgts below if you wish to book onto one of the sessions to find out further information about the role. Sessions will be run in the morning and afternoon on each date:

• Friday 19^th September 2025 – A/INSP Steve Taylor
• Tuesday 23^rd September 2025 – A/INSP Steve Taylor 
• Friday 26^th September 2025 – PS Mark Clabon

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of a number of stages, which are outlined below:

1. Submission of the Firearms Application Form (suitability for firearms training) 

• Opens: Monday 15^th September 2025 
• Closing date: Friday 3^rd October 2025 

2. Attendance criteria review (3 years from closing date).

3. Paper sifts in line with the CVF role profile and guidance notes to take place throughout October 2025 up to the first NDM assessment day.

4. Completion of the CoP ARV fitness test to the standard required for ARV Officers (level 9.4). Dates on which the tests will be taken by candidates are: 

• 6^th October 2025
• 8^th October 2025
• 10^th October 2025
• 13^th October 2025 

All sessions will be held at Public Order Training, Pioneer close, Manvers, Rotherham at 7.50am prompt (test start time). Please contact CTI Jay Hollingsworth AND A/INSP Steve Taylor to book on one of these dates which are being run concurrent with the paper sift.

5. Firearms NDM Assessments (Practical scenarios) and shooting assessments. The top scoring 20 successful candidates through the fitness test AND paper sift will progress to this stage. Candidates to be available for one of these dates:

• 20^th October 2025
• 30^th October 2025
• 3^rd November 2025
• 13^th November 2025

6. Successful candidates at this point will be invited to attend a formal interview that will be based on the CVF, this is likely to take place in December 2025).

7. Successful candidates will receive details of the IFC course, which is scheduled to run: 

5^th January 2026 to 10^th April 2026. This requires fulltime attendance for the duration of the course with no leave/abstractions allowed (unless under exceptional circumstances).

8. Successful candidates will be booked onto a 4-day initial STO TASER course prior to commencing their IFC course (if not already TASER trained).

9. OHU Medical examination and Doctor report – hearing, sight and general physical assessment to be arranged and undertaken by successful candidates, prior to starting on the IFC course.

10. Check of disciplinary record, personal record, and approval for further assessment by ACC.

11. Vetting by PSD – may be undertaken at any time during the process.

12. Successful candidates to attend regional stores for uniform fitting and kit/equipment prior to IFC course.

13. Successful completion of the Initial Firearms Course (IFC).  

*Candidates MUST be available for all the dates required to complete the process*

Further Information:

Consideration can be given to more flexible working arrangements, if required, on successful completion of the IFC course.

OSU Firearms Support Group is based at the Operations Complex, Europa Link in South Yorkshire, current vacancies are for positions at this location.

Upon successful completion of the Initial Firearms Course, individuals will remain in their current roles until vacancies arise within OSU.

Due to the specialist nature of the role and the extensive training and development involved a MINIMUM commitment of FIVE years is expected.

Contact:

Further information about the role may be obtained by contacting the FSG Inspectors: A/Insp Steve Taylor and Insp Steve Usher on Ext 717048 or Chief Inspector Jonathan Greaves on Ext 716690.

Information regarding technical and training issues may be obtained from:  Chief Firearms Instructor (CFI) John Cobb or Deputy CFI Ben Rowley in the Firearms Training and Development Unit on Ext 722122.

How to Apply:

ARVO Application Form - If you are having trouble with the hyperlink, please right click, copy and paste in a separate window.

The completed Firearms Application form should be supported by your Line manager along with District Commander and returned to: [email protected]

Please click here for the application form

Vetting Level

The vetting level for this role is Management Vetting (MV). If successful your vetting will be reviewed and uplifted. For further information please contact the Vetting Unit on [email protected]

Diversity and Inclusion

Operational Support is under-represented by female and ethnic minority officers and applications are particularly welcome from these officers.

It’s really important to us that the department represents the community we serve, in order for us to provide the best service, utilising a range of backgrounds, experience and skills. We support and value all officers and staff and the unique experiences they bring to the role. We strongly encourage and welcome expressions of interest from these valuable underrepresented groups.

If you are from an underrepresented group and want to find out more about the support we can offer, please contact our dedicated team on [email protected]

Closing date: Friday 3^rd October 2025 

Please note officers undergoing NPPF4 cannot apply to move roles.