Ministry of Defence Guard Service
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 unarmed security guards and patrol services.[1]
The MGS deals with access and pass control, 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.[2]
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.
History
From 2004 to 2013 MGS and Ministry of Defence Police worked in the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency. In April 2013, the MDPGA was disbanded and the MGS joined the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.
Uniforms and equipment
Although the MGS are an unarmed security-officer organisation; they wear a similar uniform to police forces. This consists of (in an everyday working environment) a white shirt, tie, NATO-type navy blue jumper, high visibility jacket and a black peaked cap and black steel toe capped boots or shoes. The shirts and jumpers have epaulettes with "MOD GUARD SERVICE" or "MOD SECURITY" printed on them and the same on jackets. The black peaked cap has the MGS badge on the front and can be worn with a clear or black waterproof cover for use in wet weather.
Other types of uniform may include items such as: a black polo shirt with the MGS logo on the chest, black waterproof trousers (same issued to MDP dog section officers), high visibility gilet coat, high visibility fleece, British Army issue Combat Gloves MKII. Depending on the role certain sites require MGS Officers to wear white overalls when conducting vehicle searches.
Any equipment carried will consist of a radio, torch, first aid kit, search equipment, security-infringement paperwork, fire safety management plans, notebook and pen.
Training
Currently MGS officer are expected to attend a five day long foundation course which includes industry leading training [3]and equips officers with skills regarding service delivery and conflict management amongst other security related training.
See also
References
- MOD Guard Service, GOV.UK. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- http://www.mod.uk MGS Page at MoD website Retrieved 16 March 2012
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mod-guard-service