Ministry of Defence Guard Service

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ministry of Defence Guard Service
UK - MOD Police & Guarding Agency Guard Service (6606691691).jpg
MOD Guard Service Patch and Insignia
Agency overview
Formed1992
Preceding agencies
  • Ministry of Defence Guard Force
  • Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency
TypeUnarmed Guarding
JurisdictionUnited Kingdom
Employees2,500+[1]
Annual budget£103.2m (2006/7)[2]
Agency executive
  • Mark Wakeford, Head of Unarmed Guarding
Parent agencyDefence Infrastructure Organisation
WebsiteOfficial Website

The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) is part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation of the Ministry of Defence, and provides military establishments across the United Kingdom with guarding and patrol services.[3] The Guard Service is one of the few remaining uniformed Civil Service agencies within the UK.

The MGS deals with access and pass control, initial response, key control, vehicle and personnel searching, security patrols of buildings and perimeter fences, dog patrols, CCTV, and alarm monitoring. It also performs other duties like helicopter marshalling, first aid provision, mail and baggage scanning, security sweeps, and health and safety guidance and the cordoning off of suspected bomb threats.[4]

Organisation and Grades[]

MGS guards are formally known as Civilian Security Officers (CSOs), with the following grades in position:

Ministry of Defence Guard Service grades and insignia
Rank CSO1 CSO2 CSO3 CSO4 CSO5[5]
Epaulette insignia CSO1 epaulette.jpg
CSO2 epaulette.jpg
CSO3 epaulette.jpg
 Varies depending on Area or Date
CSO4 alternate insignia.jpg

CSO4.jpg
 Epaulette denoting 'MOD Guard Service'

Grades are often referred to by officers by the grade's number (e.g. CSO4 may be referred to as a 'four' and CSO5 a 'five'). The MGS also has support, administrative and managerial staff including programme and project managers, training staff and communications staff. [6][7]

Dog Section[]

A Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) dog handler and his charge, Army Air Corps station at Middle Wallop.

The MGS has its own dog section, made up of CSO5 (Dog Hanlder)s and military working dogs (MWDs), which provide support to other CSOs.[8] The working dogs are an essential requirement to some MoD station's licensing requirements to hold, store and distribute arms and ammunition, as well as other vital assets. The dogs within the MGS are recognised as a force multiplier, in which the MGS say one dog team is as efficient as four officers working a beat patrol. The dog section adheres to MoD, Military and Statutory standards for training and welfare and are subject to the rules of engagement when met with fleeing suspects on defence estates.[9]

Performance[]

The MGS's standards are maintained through external accreditation. They hold the following awards:

  • National Security Inspectorate (NSI) Gold Standard
  • Customer Service Excellence (CSE) Award
  • Committed to Equality (C2E) Award[10]
  • Government Security Team of the Year Award 2021[11]

History[]

From 2004 to 2013 MGS and Ministry of Defence Police worked in the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency, and were based out of MDPGA Wethersfield (previously RAF Wethersfield) in Essex. In April 2013, the MDPGA was disbanded and the MGS joined the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.

From 2019 to 2020 MoD Guard Service personnel completed around 800,000 personal and vehicle searches across the Defence estate, confiscated over 9,000 out of date security and vehicle passes, reported just under 3,000 security breaches and completed over 117,00 environmental/energy conservation actions whilst undertaking patrols.[12]


Uniform and Equipment[]

MOD Guard Service Beret and Cap-badge

Although the MGS are a guarding organisation; they wear a similar uniform to police forces such as the MET Police Service. This consists of:

Officers from the MDP and MGS in public at Whitehall, London
Dog Handler on a joint exercise with the army

Standard Issue CSO Uniform[]

  • Short Sleeved White Shirt (Summer dress)
  • Long Sleeved White Shirt (Winter dress)
  • NATO "Woolly-pulley" Navy Blue Jumper
  • Dark Navy Blue Peaked cap (with MGS Cap Badge)
  • Dark Navy Blue Beret (Only issued to officers stationed at air bases that host the United States Air Force)
  • Black Trousers (Black combat trousers sometimes worn)
  • Duty Kit Belt
  • Black Steel Toe Capped Boots or Shoes (Officer Specific)
  • Black Epaulettes denoting "MoD Guard Service" and grade
  • Black Waterproof Trousers
  • Black Waterproof Hat Cover
  • High Visibility (printed with "MoD Security" in a navy blue box on breast and back)
    • High Visibility Light Vest
    • High Visibility Fleece (No Epaulettes)
    • High Visibility Waterproof Coat
  • Black British Army MkII Combat Glove

Additional Dog Section Uniform[]

  • Dark Navy Blue Beret (with MGS cap badge)
  • Black Waterproof Cap denoting "MoD"
  • Black Equipment Vest
  • Black Field Jacket
  • Combat/Cargo Trousers

Other Uniform[]

  • Black Polo Shirt with MGS Logo on breast
  • White Overalls (For vehicle searching if required)
  • Sealskin "Beanie" Hat
  • High Visibility Equipment Vest[13]
  • Official MOD Guard Service Tunic (Number 2's) worn on special occasions [14]

Equipment[]

Equipment carried can include but not limited to:

  • Air-wave Radio
  • LED Torch or Maglite
  • First Aid Kit
  • Acid Attack Kit
  • Vehicle Search Equipment
  • Security-Infringement Paperwork
  • Fire Safety Management Plans
  • Official Personal Notebook (PNB) and Pen

Training[]

MoD Guard Serviceman taking part in a Arms/Explosives Dog Handling course with members of the British Army
MoD Guard Serviceman (right) taking part in a Arms/Explosives Dog Handling course with members of the British Army

Currently MGS officers are expected to attend a five day long foundation course which includes industry leading training [15] and equips officers with skills regarding service delivery and conflict management amongst other security and defence related training.

Controversy[]

OMEC Controversy[]

In mid 2020 the Operational MGS Employment Contract (OMEC) was introduced to newly recruited officers, this contract saw that on paper officers would earn around £25,000 which is more than what the existing/old contract offered. However the OMEC contract sees that officers get less meal break time and owe more shifts (26 per year) to their management. In addition officers can no longer claim for weekend premiums, and current serving officers on the old MGS contract wishing to transfer or apply for promotion will be moved onto the OMEC contract.[16] The MoD are currently not in a position to understand the MGS officer's concerns regarding the dispute which has lead to officers in some areas taking industrial action.[17]

Other organisations[]

The MGS works alongside armed guard services—the Military Provost Guard Service in England, Scotland and Wales, and the Northern Ireland Security Guard Service in Northern Ireland. The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) also work closely with the MGS, by providing an armed police service to the defence community and often act as the armed standoff or cover to the MGS whilst on guard.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ https://www.vercida.com/uk/jobs/dio-ministry-of-defence-guard-service-security-officer-shift-worker-defence-infrastructure-organisation-bristol
  2. ^ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/28484/mdpga_corpbusplan_0611.pdf
  3. ^ MOD Guard Service, GOV.UK. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  4. ^ http://www.mod.uk MGS Page at MoD website Retrieved 16 March 2012
  5. ^ "Sign in - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK".
  6. ^ https://www.vercida.com/uk/articles/the-mod-guard-service-dio-still-working
  7. ^ "MOD Guard Service".
  8. ^ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/867970/20190531-MGS_Recruitment_Flyer_001_tagged.pdf[bare URL]
  9. ^ "Using dogs to boost security". Gov.uk. 29/06/20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ "MOD Guard Service". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  11. ^ "DIO's MOD Guard Service Win 'Team of the Year' at this year's Government Security Awards". VERCIDA. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  12. ^ "DIO Annual Report 2019/2020" (PDF). Gov.uk. 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "MoD Security Guards on selective industrial action due to T&Cs dispute". www.gbc.gi. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  14. ^ Shearin, Martin (2012). "GOC's Commendation for CSO5 Martin Shearin Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "MOD Guard Service".
  16. ^ "Protect the MOD Guards".
  17. ^ "MOD Guard Service OMEC Contract Gibraltar".

External links[]

Retrieved from ""