The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) 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.[4][5] The Guard Service is one of the few remaining uniformed Civil Service agencies within the UK, and has been named an elite guarding service within the United Kingdom.[6] They provide the highest level of security to Defence assets supporting critical Defence assets.[7]
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.[8]
MGS Officers wearing tunics at Whitehall line the outer foyer for a VIP.
Organisation and grades
The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) is composed of staff at all grades between SZ2 and Senior Civil Servant (SCS) Pay Band 1 (SCS PB1). A list of these is - SZ2, E2, E1, D, C2, C1, B2, B1, SCS PB1. 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 roles from SZ2 to SCS PB1 level.[9]
Grades are often referred to by officers by the antiquated grading system’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.[10][11]
Ministry of Defence Guard Service grades and insignia
Rank
BRM
AOM
OM
CSO4
CSO5
Epaulette insignia
Dog section
MGS Dog Handler with his Military Working Dog in front of an MOD Carrier vanA handler wearing a foldable MOD baseball cap displays his dog in front of an MOD Dog Section Carrier.
The MGS has its own dog section, made up of CSO5 (dog handlers) and military working dogs (MWDs), which provide support to other officers.[12] 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.[13]
Performance
MOD Guard Service Logo under UK Government Regulations
The MGS's standards are maintained through external accreditation. They hold the following awards:
National Security Inspectorate (NSI) Gold Standard
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.[16]
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, Standsted 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.[17]
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, LondonMGS Dog Handler on a joint exercise with the Army
MoD Guard Serviceman (right) taking part in an arms/explosives dog handling course with members of the British Army
Currently MGS officers are expected to attend a ten day long foundation course which includes industry leading training [11] and equips officers with skills regarding service delivery and conflict management, emergency first aid (including trauma 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.
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 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.[21] 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.[22]
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.[23]
Other organisations
MGS Ops Manager and CSO5 discuss with an RAF Flt Lt. from UK Space Command.
The MGS works alongside armed guard services—the Military Provost Guard Service in England, Scotland and Wales, and the Northern Ireland Security Guard Service (NISGS) 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.
The MGS also exist in within Germany as the Germany Guard Service (GGS previously CGSU (G)[6]) similar to the afore mentioned NISGS.
