Are you ready to protect with purpose? We are recruiting new officers to join our team, with opportunities available at various locations across the UK. This advertisement is to attract a pool of candidates for potential future vacancies within the next 12-24 months. Whilst preferences will be noted and considered when we come to allocate courses, no station can be guaranteed, and allocations will be based on business needs at the time of each intake.
Police Constable - Authorised Firearms Officer Counter-Terrorism
£28,412 - £45,819
40 hours a week
Typical shift pattern consist of four 12-hour shifts followed by four days off. To note, shift patterns are subject to review throughout the Force.
Scotland
HMNB Clyde, Clyde
RNAD Coulport, Coulport
North West, England
Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
North West, England
Menwith Hill, Harrogate
Central West, England
Hereford, Herefordshire
Central South, England
Aldermaston, Berkshire
Burghfield, Berkshire
South East, England
Porton Down, Wiltshire
HMNB Portsmouth, Hampshire
South West, England
HMNB Devonport, Plymouth
As an AFO-CT with the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP), you’ll play a vital front-line role in safeguarding the UK’s Defence and critical national infrastructure.
This is not a typical policing role – it’s an opportunity to specialise in counterterrorism (CT) duties, armed security and protecting some of the nation's most sensitive assets.
Every day, your work will have a direct impact on national security, requiring precision, dedication, and commitment.
perform armed patrols and frontline response to incidents within the Defence estate,
maintain firearms and fitness qualifications,
engage with communities, victims and witnesses,
gather intelligence, conduct investigations and manage evidence,
apply problem solving and evidence-based policing methods.
Find out how to join MDP as a new recruit.
To receive an application pack, register your interest in the April 2025 new recruit’s campaign. If you need guidance and support with completing your application, you will also be able to sign up to a pre-application workshop.
You will receive an application pack by 17:00 on Thursday 17th April.
Registration closes 10:00 on Thursday 17th April 2025.
All applications and supporting documentation must be emailed to MDP-Resourcing@mod.gov.uk by 23:45 Sunday 4th May.
The journey to transferring to MDP involves several stages. To help you understand what to expect and prepare effectively, we have created a detailed guide to our recruitment process.
Once a campaign goes live, you will be able to register your interest.
After registering you will be sent an application pack. You will need to submit the application form and return this this our recruitment team, with the required documentation.
To note: Our application form requires you to provide personal details about a range of subject areas. This includes information for vetting purposes, on your financial position and any previous involvement with the police.
You will be notified of the sift results by email.
Upon receiving that you have been successful at the application stage, you'll be invited to partake in the interviews.
There are two separate interviews which divided into competency questions based on the MDP Competency Framework and suitability-based questions.
Suitability questions will focus your understanding of the force in the role. The motivation for applying and your understanding and expectations of the impact the role may have on your personal life.
The first interviews conducted online and if successful the second is face to face. They both last for approximately 1 hour. The location details are interview be advised to you as you progress throughout the process.
If you are successful at the interview stage, you'll be invited to attend a medical and fitness test.
Your national security vetting application for SC clearance will also need to be initiated and police vetting checks conducted.
The recruitment team will guide you through this process.
If the post you will be offered requires DV clearance, this will be initiated once your station allocations confirmed, and the SC has been granted.
Once you have successfully completed all the processes, you'll be ready for appointment (subject to vacancy availability).
Candidates who successfully passed the recruitment process are held, pending an intake, and offered available positions.
Congratulations, you've now successfully completed the application process and your MDP journey will begin at the training school. Upon commencement of training, you'll be an MDP employee, and you are therefore paid your starting salary from day one of the training programme.
All successful applicants in England and Wales will be enrolled onto the Level 4 Non-Home Office Police Officer apprenticeship delivered by the MDP. This is a two-year apprenticeship with 20 weeks initial. And firearms training, after which training continues on station. Once complete, the apprenticeship will be signed off by an outside agency at the end point assessment, which will consist of knowledge checks, a professional discussion, and a practical assessment.
Successful applicants in Scotland will be enrolled on Level 7 Scottish Diploma delivered by the MDP. This is also a two-year course where apprentices will undertake 20 weeks of probationer training programme and firearms training. On conclusion of the training, apprentices will be required to complete exams and an operational module assessed debrief.
Apprentices are not required to contribute towards the cost of their training. They will remain in probation for the two-year duration of their programme and at the end will be qualified police officers.