Looking to take a new path in your policing career?

Look no further than the MDP

Authorised Firearms Officers

Police Constable

We have the following projected vacancies located at:

  • Porton Down
  • AWE Burghfield, Berkshire
  • AWE Aldermaston, Berkshire

Operational Groups and Units

Tactical Firearms Unit (TFU)

We have the following projected vacancies located at:

  • AWE Aldermaston, Berkshire

Special Escort Group (SEG)

We currently do not have any projected vacancies.

Vacancies are primarily filled by internal applicants but where a high number of vacancies exist, direct entry opportunities may be offered. Applicants considering the SEG are advised to apply for AWE Aldermaston or Burghfield and then apply for advertised internal vacancies as they arise after commencing employment, your interest will be noted by the Recruitment Team.

Locations

We are a national force, and the areas we operate within provide unique working environments. Take a look at all our locations.

You will be asked to state a preference of region/station in your application however, no location can be guaranteed and you will be allocated a post based on business needs.

Applicants may state a second preference from our locations, should these stations become available during your application process. However, these are not guaranteed and if successful you should expect to be posted to your first preference.

The roles

Find out more about Life in the MDP, and our operational groups and units

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be serving police officers or have left the police service no more than 36 months ago.
  • Although we welcome applications from currently qualified AFOs, you do not need to be a currently qualified AFO to be eligible to apply. Full training will be provided.
  • You must be a sole British National and hold a British Passport.
  • You must be able to obtain and maintain full Security Check clearance and, Developed Vetting clearance for AWE, SEG and Menwith Hill posts.
  • Selection to the SEG will be based on availability of posts and skill set.
  • You will be required to pass the MDP Physical Employment Standards Job-Related Fitness Test (PES-JRFT). Find out more about being MDPfit for the job.

Take a look at Entry Requirements for further information on residency, financial status, tattoos and piercings and vetting.

How to apply

If you consider yourself eligible to apply, follow ‘How to apply’ below, see Step 2 – Apply to join us

Next steps

  • Applicants who pass the paper sift will be invited to attend for interview on a date to be confirmed. Successful applicants will then be invited to attend for a medical and fitness test at a later date.
  • Upon commencement of employment, you will be required to complete a 9-week New Entrants from Other Forces (NEOF) course, which includes the initial 8-weeks of firearms training. Officers who are currently qualified AFO’s will have a gap analysis undertaken by the Firearms Training team and may be eligible for a shorter conversion course, where this can be accommodated.

Further information

To find out more about these vacancies, email the Recruitment Team: MDP-RecruitmentEnquiries@mod.gov.uk

How to apply

Step 1 – Initial eligibility and suitability check

Policing status: To join us as a new entrant from another police force, you must have completed your probation period (with a minimum of 2 years’ service) as a regular Constable with a UK Home Department Police Force or other UK Civilian policing organisation (i.e. BTP/CNC/Ports/PSNI/Police Scotland). You will be required to provide evidence that you have successfully completed your initial training, if you have less than 4 years’ service.

If you meet the criteria outlined above and you have left the police service, including service with the MDP, no more than 3 years ago, you may also apply to join us.

Driving licence: You must hold a full UK manual car driving licence with no more than six penalty points.

Qualifications: Although we welcome applications from currently qualified AFOs, you do not need to be a currently qualified AFO to be eligible to apply, unless the job listing specifies otherwise. Full training will be provided.

Residency: You must have resided continuously in the UK for a minimum five-year period immediately prior to your application to join as a new Police Constable with MDP, with any absences from the UK being no more than six months cumulative during this time. The qualifying UK residency is ten years for postings to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) and any location requiring Developed Vetting clearance. If you have resided abroad due to serving in the British Armed Forces or on UK Government service, you are considered to have been resident in the UK.

Nationality: We are unable to accept applications from anyone with foreign or dual nationality status. To be employed, all applicants will be required to achieve full security clearance without restrictions.

To be employed, all applicants will be required to achieve full security clearance without restrictions.

Fitness: To join the MDP as an AFO or NFI (also applies to non armed Constable and Sergeant roles such as Crime Command), you must pass the MDP Physical Employment Standards Job-Related Fitness Test (PES-JRFT). You will then be tested to that standard throughout the training process, and upon completion of training, officers will be required to meet the Force fitness standard for AFOs on an annual basis, as a contractual requirement. Inspectors and above must achieve 5.4 in the multi-stage fitness test (15 metres).

Financial status: You must not be registered bankrupt with outstanding debts or have any outstanding County Court Judgements against you. If you have previously been registered bankrupt, at least 3 years must have passed from the date the debt was discharged and you must be able to evidence this.

Further questions will follow, to confirm your eligibility to apply, as part of the full application process. Take a look at Entry Requirements for more information.

Step 2 – Apply to join us

If you consider yourself eligible to apply, you can now request an application form by emailing: MDP-Resourcing@mod.gov.uk.

Complete the form electronically and return it, with copies of required documentation to: MDP-RecruitmentEnquiries@mod.gov.uk.

Once we receive your application form, you will be sent an acknowledgement email. Add MDP-Resourcing@mod.gov.uk and MDP-RecruitmentEnquiries@mod.gov.uk as favourites or trusted contacts on your email account, to avoid correspondence being moved automatically to your Junk Mail folder.

It may take up to 6 weeks before you will hear back from us. If you do not hear from us within that timeframe, contact MDP-RecruitmentEnquiries@mod.gov.uk.  Please also remember to check your Junk Mail folder.

Application process

Find out what it takes to join MDP

Our step-by-step guidance

Interested in joining us?

You can register for an email alert to be sent to you ahead of the go-live dates for any future campaigns, for vacancies at ranks that we are not currently advertising.

Please make sure that you:

  • Complete your details accurately, especially your email address – if your email address is incorrect, you won’t receive the email alert
  • Only submit one form – if you’ve made a mistake and need to change anything, send us an email and we will update your details
  • Familiarise yourself with our locations and where you’re most likely to serve

Already applied to join us?

Our Recruitment Team will provide regular updates and information on the progress of your application.

My move to the MDP is, for me, the best move I’ve made. I have already had so many memorable experiences including escorting HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, whilst having to negotiate a busy sea channel carrying passenger ferries and commercial shipping boats!

Kirsty

We value difference in our force with a difference

We’re committed to ensuring that the MDP is representative of modern Britain, and we welcome and support applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

Read more on our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion