Recruitment

Career Opportunities

All officers, who have completed their probationary period, can begin to plan how they wish to direct their career.  When a vacancy arises, they may apply for a position in any of the specialist units that make up the MDP.  Specialist operations units deal with such tasks as investigating and detecting fraud, policing public disorder, conducting counter-terrorism searches, the waterborne security of all Her Majesty's Naval Bases, all aspects of Operational Support and providing protection for the transportation of nuclear materials between MOD establishments.

Joining the MDP

With around 3,400 officers spread over many locations, and performing a range of different jobs our organisation is so diverse that we need a wide range of people to join us.

The people we recruit come from all walks of life and bring with them a range of skills and abilities. However, some common eligibility criteria must be met to join the MDP:

You must be aged 18 or over.

You must be reasonably physically fit.
 
You should be prepared to work anywhere in the UK.

The full list of eligibility requirements will be published here prior to any recruitment campaign.
 
Beyond that, we are looking for people who are capable of making clear judgements under  pressure, people who can handle long periods of inactivity and still remain vigilant, people who can react quickly, and just as importantly, reasonably.

Having a previous criminal conviction/s, or caution/s, is not an automatic bar to joining the MDP; however, you must disclose all convictions/cautions however minor when completing your application form. We will judge each case on its merits.

Our Selection Process

Candidates who pass the application stage will be called to a two-day assessment centre at our training college in Wethersfield, Essex. The assessment centre comprises a number of exercises, which simulate real life situations and problems, and includes firearms and job related fitness assessments. Over the course of the two days you will be assessed against seven core competencies, to see if you have the qualities it takes to become an MDP officer. These are:

Community and Customer Focus
Respect for Race & Diversity
Resilience
Effective Communication
Personal Responsibility
Team Working
Problem Solving
 
If you are successful at the assessment centre you will be required to undergo a medical examination to confirm your suitability for the role.

The final stage of our selection process involves obtaining references and security checks, based on the forms you fill in when you first apply. An Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check will also be required.

Once all relevant documents have been cleared and processed you will be considered for employment with the MDP.

Security Clearance

Because of the nature of our work everyone joining the MDP is required to undergo a security check and obtain at least SC Clearance. This is the lower security clearance required by the Government and involves a credit check plus checks against such things as UK criminal and security records and, if appropriate, those of overseas countries. Applicants will also be required to successfully achieve an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check, which forms part of the application process.

As the majority of new applicants can expect to serve their probationary period at an Atomic Weapons establishment, you will be required to obtain the higher Developed Vetting (DV) clearance.

DV checks are carried out only so far as to safeguard national security but will include:
The completion of security questionnaires;
A financial check, including a check with a Credit Reference Agency;
Interviews with your character referees either by telephone or in person;
A detailed interview with the person requiring the clearance, conducted by a Vetting Officer.

The aim is to ensure that your character, personal circumstances and integrity are such that you can be trusted with access to sensitive information or assets and that you will not be vulnerable to blackmail.

Because of this it is important that you are completely open and honest with us during the recruitment process, since omitting or concealing information will be taken as evidence of unreliability and/or dishonesty.

If not initially stationed at AWE, but at any point in your career you are posted to an atomic weapons establishment, or any other establishment requiring higher-level security clearance, you will be required to obtain Developed Vetting (DV) clearance.

Common Access Card

As an MDP officer you may at some point in your career work at a United States Visiting Forces (USVF) Base. Since November 2006, access to US DoD networked IT systems worldwide has only been available via the use of a Common Access Card (CAC) and the majority of posts at USVF Bases require officers to hold a CAC. In order to obtain a CAC, you will need to provide certain personal information and data that the USVF authorities will safeguard and retain whilst you remain employed on a USVF unit.

Please be assured that all candidates undergoing security clearance are treated impartially and consistently irrespective of their age, disability status, gender, gender identity, marital status, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

Locations

With many sites throughout the UK, opportunities in the MDP are on a national scale.  However, most new recruits are likely to be stationed initially at one of the Atomic Weapons Establishments (AWE), Aldermaston or Burghfield in SE England, or RNAD Coulport, in Scotland, where their two-year probationary period will be served. The standard posting length, for all officers, is three years (including new recruits and Home Office force transferees) before becoming eligible to apply for another position of the same rank.

Upon joining the MDP you will be liable for any relocation costs.