Criminal intelligence analyst
Intelligence officer
Criminal intelligence analysts use data to detect and prevent crime and protect UK security.
Salary range: £20,000 to £52,000
How to become a criminal intelligence analyst
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- a graduate training scheme
University
You could do a degree in a subject that includes data analysis, for example:
- computing
- maths and statistics
- social science
- psychology
- criminology
Other subjects may be accepted.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
Apprenticeship
You can get into this job through an intelligence analyst, cyber instrusion analyst or cyber security technologist higher apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More information
Work
You may be able to start in a related job in the security services, for example as a researcher or language specialist, and apply to join an intelligence officer training programme.
You could also apply to become a police intelligence officer, if you’re working in a police force. Each force sets its own application entry requirements.
Other routes
You could apply for MI5’s Intelligence and Data Analyst Development Programme if you have a degree or relevant work experience.
You may also be able to apply through the Civil Service Fast Stream.
Applications can take up to 9 months. As part of the process, you’ll need to be prepared to answer questions about your personal life, relationships, family and finances.
More information
Further information
You can find out more about a career in intelligence from the security agencies:
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- analytical thinking skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of English language
- legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
- the ability to use your initiative
- thinking and reasoning skills
- the ability to read English
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
Restrictions and requirements
You’ll need to:
- be over 18 years of age
- be a British citizen
- have lived in the UK for the last 3 years
- pass enhanced background checks
- have a good level of fitness
- pass a medical check
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
In this role, you’ll:
- collect national and international data
- analyse data using specialist software
- build a picture of crime in an area by studying trends in data
- present your intelligence to managers and other agencies
- monitor the behaviour of individuals or groups
- update intelligence records on databases
- review the effectiveness of your analysis
- act as an expert witness in court
- keep up to date with security and confidentiality rules
Working environment
You could work in an office or in a court.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and you may spend nights away from home.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could work as a senior analyst, giving specialist advice and assessing trends to work with managers on future priorities.
Employers usually offer clear career paths to more senior roles.
You might also move to related areas of work within your organisation, for example applying to become a police officer.