Ministry of Defence Guard Service


The Ministry of Defence Guard Service is part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation of the Ministry of Defence, it provides Defence establishments across the United Kingdom with guarding and patrol services and was established as a response to the Deal Bombing. The Guard Service is one of the few remaining uniformed Civil Service agencies within the UK, and has been called an elite guarding service. They provide the highest level of security to Defence assets supporting critical Defence assets.
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 such as helicopter marshalling, first aid provision, mail and baggage scanning, security sweeps, and health and safety guidance and the cordoning off of suspected bomb threats.
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Organisation and grades

The non-uniformed staff in MGS cover a range of business management functions and grades, for example, secretariat, service delivery, assurance, personnel management, training, standards and stores.
Grades are often referred to by officers by the antiquated grading system’s number. The MGS also has support, administrative and managerial staff including programme and project managers, training staff and communications staff.

Dog section

The MGS has its own dog section, made up of CSO5 and military working dogs, which provide support to other officers. The working dogs are a requirement to some MoD stations' licensing requirements to hold, store and distribute arms and ammunition, as well as other vital assets. The dogs within the MGS are recognised as force multipliers, 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.

Performance

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

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 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 117,000 environmental/energy conservation actions whilst undertaking patrols.

Operation Riverbank

At the request of the UK Border Force various officers from the MGS assisted in Border operations during a 7 week period whilst the London 2012 Olympics were ongoing. This included detached duties to London Heathrow, Stansted Airport, Coquelles and potentially other ports as part of operations that were left undocumented in the public domain. This detachment was completed alongside the MOD Police, and officers were trained at MDPGA Weathersfield in order to work on the borders effectively.

Uniform and equipment

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

Standard issue CSO uniform

  • Short-sleeved white shirt
  • Long-sleeved white shirt
  • NATO "woolly-pulley" navy blue jumper
  • Dark navy blue peaked cap
  • Dark navy blue beret
  • Black trousers
  • Duty kit belt
  • Black steel-toe-capped boots or shoes
  • Black epaulettes denoting "MoD Guard Service" and grade
  • Black waterproof trousers
  • Black waterproof hat cover
  • High visibility
  • * High visibility light vest
  • * High visibility fleece
  • * High visibility waterproof coat
  • Black British Army MkII combat glove

Additional dog section uniform

  • Dark navy blue beret
  • Black waterproof/foldable cap denoting "MoD"
  • Black equipment vest
  • Black field jacket
  • Combat/cargo trousers

Other uniform

  • Black polo shirt with "MGS" logo on breast
  • White overalls
  • Sealskin "beanie" hat
  • High-visibility vest
  • Official MOD Guard Service tunic worn on special occasions
  • Stab vest denoting department and role "MoD Security"

Equipment

Equipment carried can include but is not limited to:

Foundation training

Currently MGS officers are expected to attend a ten day long foundation course which includes industry leading training and equips officers with skills regarding service delivery and conflict management, emergency first aid amongst other security and defence related training. This is then followed by a 6 month probation period where the officer will be assessed by their Operations Manager.

Capabilities

Operation Riverbank

Operation in place to train and utilise MGS Officers within UK Borderforce in times of need.

Services

Source:
Access control
  • Control of access and egress
  • Visitor reception duties
  • Traffic control
  • Control of passes
  • Searching vehicles and personnel
  • Control and issues of keys
Patrols
  • Security patrols of buildings and perimeters
  • Dog patrols
Communication and monitoring
  • CCTV monitoring
  • Observation tower duties
  • Alarm monitoring
  • Liaison with other security providers
Emergency response
  • Contribute to counter terror planning
  • Contribute to emergency response
Specialist duties
  • First aid
  • Unit security officer
  • Scanning of mail and baggage
  • Helicopter marshalling

Controversy

OMEC

In mid 2020 the Operational MGS Employment Contract 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 contract offered. However the OMEC contract sees that officers get less meal break time and owe more shifts to their management. Officers are also made to work a de facto 60 hour work week with many officers being deliberately misled in interviews that they will be working "43 hours a week". 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. The MoD are currently not in a position to understand the MGS officer's concerns regarding the dispute which has led to officers in some areas taking industrial action.

Touch pass protocol

In August 2022 it was said that officers within the MGS at Devonport Dockyard may strike as the "touch pass protocol" was announced to be brought back after COVID-19 health and safety practices put a stop to it. It is said to be due to health and safety concerns.

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 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.
The MGS also exist in within Germany as the Germany Guard Service similar to the afore mentioned NISGS.