Home Office (HO) 

Number of positions available: 5 

Locations: Central London, Croydon, Sheffield, and Manchester 

Salary: Starting salary if based in a London office is £42,539. For those based outside London the starting salary is £38419. Home Office Research Officers also receive an additional £1,600 per annum paid as a Retention and Recruitment Allowance. 

About the Home Office 

The Home Office (HO) is the lead government department for immigration and passports, crime, police, fire, and counter terrorism. The issues the department deals with are significant, intellectually stimulating, often controversial and regularly at the top of the news. Social researchers work across these areas, alongside economists, statisticians, and operational researchers to support policy and operational colleagues by ensuring a sound evidence base to inform the development and delivery of policy and front-line operations.  

Our span of work opportunities 

The following provides an outline of the types of work areas that could be available. 

·         Counter Terrorism research projects provide evidence to inform strategic thinking, as well as responsive analysis and briefing for policy teams. Driven by the Government’s counter terrorism strategy, CONTEST the research is focused on how to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism, how to strengthen our protection and mitigate against terrorist attacks; as well as how to stop attacks in the first place. 

·         Research and analysis for all areas of crime and policing policy cover a wide range of high-profile subject areas including police resources, crime patterns, domestic abuse, violence against women and girls, and wider violence and homicide.

·         The provision of insightful primary research and evaluation, across the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship systems supports policies seeking to manage migration, ensure the safety and smooth running of our border, and the issuing of visas and passports. Research also seeks to inform decision-making on all elements of migration and resettlement policy and operational practice. Typical kinds of research involve analysis of quantitative management information, literature reviews, and managing secondary and primary data collection. 

·         Research on serious and organised crime covers drug trafficking, human trafficking, organised illegal immigration, high value fraud and cyber-crime.  The work ranges from large-scale research projects that provide evidence to inform strategic thinking, through to responsive analysis and briefing for policy teams. 

Home Office Analysis and Insight  

Home Office Analysis and Insight (HOAI) is part of the Science, Technology, Analysis, Research and Strategy Group, bringing together professional analysts from across the department into a single, customer-driven organisation. HOAI is headed by a Director of Analysis and Insight, serving the entire Department. It consists of 700+ analysts and four Deputy Directors who as Heads of Profession are responsible for the various analytical groups (Economics, Statistics, Operational and Social Research). An important element of our work is to ensure our policy impact, embedding a critical understanding of analysis across all aspects of Home Office priorities, helping to deliver challenging objectives on crime, policing, protecting the vulnerable, counter-terrorism, extremism, and borders and migration. 

Developing your skills and career opportunities 

As a government social research analyst, you will have the opportunity to develop existing and new skills.  Within the Home Office we offer a variety of high-profile work requiring different skills and we will offer appropriate training to develop your skills and support you in undertaking the role.  As a member of the GSR community we will also support your continued professional development through a range of social research and wider developmental opportunities.  Apart from the opportunity to progress within the Home Office, you will also have access to social research opportunities advertised across government departments.  

Security Clearance 

You should have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as these posts require security clearance at Security Check (SC) level. 

Contact point for further details:  

Adam Murcutt adam.murcutt1@homeoffice.gov.uk