Ready to join us in delivering specialist armed policing, to protect the nation’s defences and national infrastructure?
Train to be an Authorised Firearms Officer
Current vacancies
PC Authorised Firearms Officer:
Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield, near Reading in Berkshire.
Please note: No other locations will be offered to successful candidates, irrespective of any future campaign openings. Please do not register for this campaign if you do not wish to serve at the AWE sites. Requests to change location during the recruitment process or once employed will not be accepted.
Open for applicant registration Friday 5 February till midnight on Friday 12 February.
How to apply
Step 1 – Initial eligibility check
Age: You must be 18 years of age or over at the time of applying.
Driving licence: You must hold a full UK manual car driving licence with no more than six penalty points.
Qualifications: You must have a level 2 qualification in English Language and Mathematics (i.e. GCSE at grade C/level 4, functional skills level 2 or SQA National 5 or equivalent). Copies of relevant qualification certificates must be attached with the application form. There is currently no requirement for new entrants to have previously attained the Certificate of Knowledge in Policing.
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 absence from the UK being no more than six months during that time. The qualifying UK residency period is ten years for postings to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) sites and any other locations where Developed Vetting clearance is required. 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: It is a requirement of some locations that you must be a British Citizen and hold a British passport. Criminal records: You should not have a criminal record. If you have a conviction as an adult or juvenile it is unlikely that you will be suitable, but some minor offences and cautions may not exclude you.
Fitness: To join the MDP as an AFO, you must achieve 7.6 on the multi-stage fitness test (bleep test). 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.
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, as part of the initial process to confirm your eligibility to apply. For more information check our entry requirements.
Step 2 – Register
If you consider yourself eligible to apply, register and complete our initial eligibility questionnaire.
Registration closes at midnight on 12 February 2021. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Please make sure that you:
- complete your details accurately, especially your email address and contact number – if you submit incorrect details, we will not be able to contact you
- 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
- double check your response before you send – this will prevent you being auto rejected based on your own responses, as a result of selecting the wrong answer
Your responses will determine whether we are able to progress you to the pre-screen stage and you will be notified either way.
Application process
Follow our step-by-step guidance, on your route to join us
