CNC vs MOD Police
Which Armed Force Fits You?
The Civil Nuclear Constabulary and the Ministry of Defence Police are two national forces in which every constable is armed. They look alike from outside but differ on nationality, selection, fitness, pay, pension and where you could work. This comparison uses only the forces' own pages and government sources, read on 23 October 2026.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 23 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
Both recruit constables as armed officers. The CNC protects civil nuclear and some energy sites; it publishes no sole-British nationality rule, needs no qualifications, uses the College National Sift and Online Assessment Centre plus a Recruitment Day with a weapons handling assessment and needs level 7.6 on the bleep test. It pays £32,256 through a two-year probation and works four on, four off. The MDP protects Defence sites; it requires sole British nationality and Level 2 English and Maths, uses two interviews and no online tests, tests fitness with a 20 kg vest and a 76 kg drag and pays from £30,643 with allowances at some sites. Neither is in the Police Pension Scheme.
The CNC and the MOD Police in short
Civil Nuclear Constabulary
- Civil nuclear and some energy sites
- No sole-British rule published; no qualifications needed
- National Sift, online assessment centre, Recruitment Day
- Bleep test to 7.6, every year
- Glasses not accepted for the eyesight standard
- £32,256 for two years, rising to £52,014
- Four 12-hour shifts on, four off
- New-recruit adverts in Scotland only (23 October 2026)
Ministry of Defence Police
- Defence sites, people and property
- Sole British nationality; Level 2 English and Maths
- Teams competency interview and RAF Wyton suitability interview
- PES-JRFT: 20 kg vest and 76 kg drag
- 120 by 100 degree visual field
- £30,643 to £49,413 plus site allowances
- 40-hour week; pattern not published
- New Recruit posts in England and Scotland
PolicePay is not affiliated with either force. Where one force publishes something the other does not, the table says "not published" rather than filling the gap.
Role and jurisdiction
| Civil Nuclear Constabulary | MOD Police | |
|---|---|---|
| What it protects | Civil nuclear sites and nuclear material in transit. Since 1 April 2025 also four non-nuclear energy sites (gas terminals at St Fergus, Easington and Bacton and the Garlogie compressor station) | Defence sites, people and property. All operational officers are trained as Authorised Firearms Officers Counter Terrorism (AFO CT) |
| Armed? | Every officer "begins as an Authorised Firearms Officer" | Every constable post is an AFO CT role |
| Where its powers apply | At every relevant nuclear site and everywhere within 5 kilometres of it, in transit and where it provides services under the Energy Act (Energy Act 2004 s56) | On Defence land and in relation to Defence property and people, with wider powers in set circumstances (Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987 s2) |
| National role | More than 60% of the UK's armed policing surge capability (Strategic Armed Policing Reserve) | Specialist units include a Tactical Firearms Unit, Special Escort Group, three Marine Units and ICOS detectives |
| Who pays | The Civil Nuclear Police Authority, funded mainly by the site licence companies | The Ministry of Defence |
Both forces have narrower jurisdiction than a territorial force. Both are built around protecting sites rather than general public policing (our summary of the roles above). If you want to deal with the full range of public policing, a Home Office force or Police Scotland is the better fit; see our firearms officer guide for the armed route inside a territorial force.
Nationality, residence and eligibility
| Civil Nuclear Constabulary | MOD Police | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 18 or over to apply and 18 years 6 months before starting. No upper limit | 18 or over to apply. No upper limit |
| Nationality | No sole-British rule published. Nationality and right to work are checked against national criteria | Sole British nationality with a valid British passport. Dual nationals and foreign nationals cannot be accepted |
| UK residence | An expectation of up to 10 years depending on the vetting level. Not meeting it does not stop you applying; extra checks may apply | 5 years' continuous UK residence before applying with no more than 6 months away in total; 10 years for DV sites. "Not flexible" |
| Qualifications | None required. GCSE-level maths and English support available | Level 2 English and Maths (GCSE grade C or 4, Functional Skills Level 2 or SCQF Level 5). Certificates required |
| Driving licence | Full manual UK or European licence, no more than six points | Full UK manual car licence, no more than 6 penalty points |
| Criminal record | "Ideally" none; some minor offences will not exclude you. No rejection list published | Published Type A (always rejected) and Type B (almost certainly rejected) lists |
| Finances | Debts must be manageable. No bankruptcy or default thresholds published | No undischarged bankruptcy with debts; 3 years since discharge; no outstanding County Court Judgments; a managed IVA or Debt Management Plan can be acceptable |
| Tattoos and piercings | Face, throat or front of neck tattoos may not be compatible; visible stretched piercings not permitted | Face, head or neck tattoos forward of the ear or jawline mean automatic rejection; no facial piercings; flesh tunnels over 4 mm rejected |
Nationality. The MDP's rule is absolute: "You must be a sole British National holding a valid British Passport". The CNC frames the question as vetting: it expects up to 10 years' UK residence depending on the vetting level and says not meeting that "does not preclude an application", although vetting is never guaranteed.
Selection stages
| Civil Nuclear Constabulary | MOD Police | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you apply | A named site advert on the CNC job portal | An Eligibility Assessment and Application Request Form on mod.police.uk; the application pack follows by email within 10 working days |
| Stage 1 | Online application form, then shortlisting (outcome within 5 to 10 working days) | Application request |
| Stage 2 | College of Policing National Sift | Application submission with documents |
| Stage 3 | College of Policing Online Assessment Centre | Competency based interview (Microsoft Teams) |
| Stage 4 | CNC Selection and Assessment Recruitment Day | Suitability interview at RAF Wyton (the fitness test may be the same day) |
| Stage 5 | Pre-employment medical and fitness assessment (may be at any point) | Medical, fitness test, Security Check and police vetting |
| Then | Conditional offer, references, vetting, 19-week IFP | Hire as positions become available, then appointment and training |
| How long | GOV.UK: the CNC aims to have you in post five to eight months from first application | Not published |
The CNC process runs through the College of Policing's national assessments first, so the early stages are the same as a Home Office force. The MDP runs its own process from the start, on its own website.
Interviews and tests
| Civil Nuclear Constabulary | MOD Police | |
|---|---|---|
| Online tests | National Sift: situational judgement test and behavioural questionnaire | None. The MDP does not use the College online assessment model |
| Written exercise | Yes, in the Online Assessment Centre (College of Policing) | None listed |
| Briefing exercise | Yes, in the Online Assessment Centre | None listed |
| First interview | College competency-based interview: five recorded questions, up to five minutes each, about 40 minutes | Competency based interview: 45 minutes on Microsoft Teams with two assessors, on the MDP Competency Framework |
| Second interview | CNC Values Based Interview at the Recruitment Day (format not published) | Suitability interview: face to face at RAF Wyton, about 40 minutes (the force, motivation, effect on your personal life, the code of ethics, vulnerable people and safeguarding) |
| Practical | Firearms briefing and weapons handling assessment (dexterity and following instruction) | No firearms or weapons handling test at recruitment |
| Role play | None listed | None listed |
| Already passed a College OAC? | The OAC is one of the CNC's own stages | A full College OAC pass with another force in the last 12 months replaces the competency interview |
Both forces interview you twice. The CNC's first interview is the recorded College one and its second, the CNC Values Based Interview, is at the Recruitment Day alongside the weapons handling assessment. The MDP's two interviews are covered in our MOD Police interview questions guide.
Fitness test and medical
| Civil Nuclear Constabulary | MOD Police | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry fitness test | Multi-stage fitness test (bleep test) to level 7.6 | PES-JRFT: cover and movement shuttles and a 76 kg casualty drag over 20 m in 20 seconds, both in a 20 kg vest |
| Attempts | Not published | Two attempts to pass both parts; reapply after three months |
| Every year? | Yes: "we'll assess your fitness every year" | Yes: assessed annually through the JRFT (the current annual standard is not published) |
| Specialist fitness | No higher CNC standard published | Tactical Firearms Unit: bleep test to 10.5 before employment |
| Glasses | Not acceptable to meet the eyesight standard; contact lenses can be used | Standards stated as "aided or unaided" |
| Visual fields | 160 by 100 degrees | 120 by 100 degrees |
| Hearing | No hearing aids | No hearing aids (unaided standard) |
| BMI | 18.5 to 30; above 30, body fat limits | 19 to under 30 with waist limits; waist to hip ratio or body fat as alternatives |
| Diabetes | Medication-controlled normally not compatible | Type 1 unlikely to be suitable |
| Drug testing | Pre-employment testing (FOI 2021) | Drug and alcohol testing at the medical |
Full detail: CNC and MOD Police fitness tests, the PES-JRFT explained, CNC medical and eyesight standards and MOD Police medical standards.
Vetting
| Civil Nuclear Constabulary | MOD Police | |
|---|---|---|
| Layers | Police vetting plus National Security Vetting. A 2021 FOI says the police part is done by Thames Valley Police | Force police vetting plus UK Security Vetting |
| National security level | Not published for a new AFO: "the type of vetting required will depend on the role" | Security Check (SC) minimum for every entrant; Developed Vetting (DV) for sites such as AWE, Menwith Hill and RNAD Coulport |
| Time | Up to three months | Not published |
| If a higher level fails | Not published | You would be offered a posting that suits the clearance you achieved, with no entitlement to relocation expenses |
The MDP's warning is worth taking literally: if you are allocated a DV site and do not get DV, you may be posted elsewhere with no relocation expenses, so do not commit to a house move until your clearance is confirmed. See MOD Police vetting: SC and DV.
Training, apprenticeship and probation
| Civil Nuclear Constabulary | MOD Police | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial course | 19-week residential Initial Foundation Programme | 12-week residential course plus a 9-week firearms course (21 weeks) |
| Where | Week 1 in Oxfordshire, then delivery centres in Oxfordshire, Surrey (firearms only), Cumbria and Caithness | Defence School of Policing and Security, Southwick Park, Hampshire; firearms at regional hubs or training centres |
| Apprenticeship | England: Level 4 Non-Home Office Police Officer Apprenticeship, up to two years, end-point assessment by Skills for Justice | England and Wales: Level 4 Non-Home Office Police Officer Apprenticeship, two years, external end-point assessment |
| Scotland | Same programme without the formal apprenticeship | Adds a 2-week Scots law module and an internal MDP programme |
| Probation | Two years | Two years |
| Pay in training | Full starting salary from day one | Full salary from day one |
| Costs | Accommodation, travel and food provided | Travel, food and accommodation provided |
Both are residential at the start and both run the same Level 4 apprenticeship standard in England. The CNC course is two weeks shorter on paper, but the MDP's 21 weeks include a separate 9-week firearms course while the CNC builds firearms into its 19 weeks.
Pay scales and probation pay
Both forces publish a seven-step constable scale. The table puts them side by side by position on the scale. Steps are not years: the CNC says you stay on the first rate for the whole two-year probation, then have "the opportunity to reach the next pay point" each year. The MDP does not publish its progression rules.
| Position | Civil Nuclear Constabulary | MOD Police |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | Probationer PC / IFP (point 0 and 1): £32,256 | Point 2: £30,643 |
| Step 2 | Constable (point 2): £33,609 | Point 3: £31,929 |
| Step 3 | Constable (point 3): £34,971 | Point 4: £33,222 |
| Step 4 | Constable (point 4): £36,336 | Point 5: £34,519 |
| Step 5 | Constable (point 5): £39,057 | Point 6: £37,104 |
| Step 6 | Constable (point 6): £44,544 | Point 7: £42,317 |
| Step 7 | Constable (point 7): £52,014 | Point 8: £49,413 |
At the start the CNC pays £1,613 a year more than the MDP's first published point (£32,256 against £30,643). At the top of each scale the gap is £2,601 (£52,014 against £49,413). These are basic pay only. MDP allowances at some sites can close or reverse the gap: a South East Allowance (higher) of £3,105 plus a priority posting allowance of £3,000 at AWE Group, for example. Equally, the CNC adds £5,000 at Garlogie and St Fergus. Compare the site you would actually work at.
Full scales and calculators: CNC pay scales and MOD Police pay scales.
Allowances, overtime and leave
| Civil Nuclear Constabulary | MOD Police | |
|---|---|---|
| Location or regional pay | £5,000 a year, non-consolidated, at Garlogie and St Fergus (new-recruit adverts) | South East Allowance £3,105 (higher) or £2,070 (lower); London Allowance £4,490; London Weighting £3,261 |
| Hard-to-fill postings | Up to £5,000 relocation support to Dounreay for buyers or £2,500 for renters, assessed case by case | Priority posting allowance £3,000 at AWE Group and Barrow-in-Furness; £2,000 at Vulcan, Dounreay and for the Special Escort Group |
| Unsocial hours | Not published | 10% of base hourly rate for each full hour worked between 9pm and 5am |
| On-call | Not published | £35 for each 24-hour period available |
| Overtime | Available; rates not published | Casual overtime at time and a third; rest day work at under 15 days' notice at time and a half or time off in lieu |
| Firearms allowance | None published | None published |
| Annual leave | 200 hours rising to 240 hours at 10 years, plus eight public holidays | 25 days (200 hours) rising to 30 days (240 hours) at 10 years |
The MDP publishes far more of its pay detail. That does not mean the CNC pays nothing extra: it means the CNC has not published unsocial hours, on-call or overtime rates, so ask before you rely on them.
Pension
| Civil Nuclear Constabulary | MOD Police | |
|---|---|---|
| Scheme | UKAEA Combined Pension Scheme, a final salary scheme administered by Equiniti | Civil Service alpha (Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme) |
| Member contribution | 8.2% of pensionable pay at £21,000 or more | 4.6% up to £36,199; 5.45% from £36,200 to £56,000 (2026/27) |
| Employer contribution | 20.7% | 28.97% |
| Pension age | Not confirmed for new recruits. A 2016 High Court case held that CNC officers do not get the police pension age of 60 in a reformed scheme | State Pension age in alpha, with an employer-funded effective pension age of 65 (or 3 years below State Pension age if higher) |
| Changes ahead | Due to close and move to alpha. The date has been delayed and is expected to be confirmed in 2027 | No change described on the MDP pay and pension page |
| Police Pension Scheme? | No | No |
A new CNC officer paying 8.2% on £32,256 contributes about £2,645 a year. A new MDP officer paying 4.6% on £30,643 contributes about £1,410 a year. The schemes build different benefits with different pension ages, so a lower contribution is not automatically the better deal. This is not financial advice.
Our explainers: the CNC pension scheme and the MOD Police pension.
Shifts, sites and postings
| Civil Nuclear Constabulary | MOD Police | |
|---|---|---|
| Shift pattern | Normally four 12-hour day or night shifts on, then four off | Not published |
| Hours | Not published as a weekly figure | 40 hours a week |
| Posting | You apply to a named site and are posted to your nominated Operational Policing Unit after training | Adverts list several stations; DV sites follow station allocation and clearance |
| Sites | 13 sites in England and Scotland at 31 March 2026, plus training and HQ sites | Nine regions across the UK; HQ at RAF Wyton |
| Scotland | Dounreay, Torness, St Fergus and Garlogie | HMNB Clyde, RNAD Coulport, the Clyde Marine Unit; Peterhead named in a NEOF advert |
For every site and its status, see CNC jobs by site and MOD Police stations and locations.
Transfers and rejoiners
| Civil Nuclear Constabulary | MOD Police | |
|---|---|---|
| Name of the route | Transferees (and rejoiners) | New Entrant from Other Forces (NEOF) |
| Who | Serving officers from Home Office forces, Police Scotland, the PSNI, BTP and the MDP who have passed probation | Serving officers, or those who left within 36 months, from a UK civilian force (including BTP, the CNC, the PSNI and Police Scotland) with two years' service and probation |
| Break in service | Under 12 months: transferee; 12 months to 5 years: rejoiner | Over 3 years since leaving: apply as a New Recruit |
| Process | Application, shortlisting, Values Based Interview, medical, 7.6 fitness test, firearms assessment (waived if AFO or ARV qualified), vetting. No National Sift or OAC | Application request, sift, NEOF suitability interview, medical, fitness, SC and police vetting. No competency interview |
| Training | 4 weeks if AFO or ARV trained; otherwise 19 weeks | 5-day conversion plus the 9-week firearms course (10 weeks) if not AFO qualified |
| Pay | Salary and leave usually honoured | Adverts start at £33,222 (point 4) |
| Probation | Six months | The remainder of a 12-month probation |
Each force accepts the other's officers. Guides: transferring to the CNC and the MOD Police NEOF route.
Who is recruiting now
| Civil Nuclear Constabulary | MOD Police | |
|---|---|---|
| New recruit constables | Open adverts for Dounreay (including a relocation advert), Garlogie and St Fergus, no closing dates. No English site advert | New Recruit AFO CT open with no closing date: HMNB Clyde, RNAD Coulport, Barrow-in-Furness, Fylingdales, Raynesway (Derby), AWE Aldermaston, AWE Burghfield, Porton Down and Welford. Also a New Recruit Tactical Firearms Unit role at AWE Group |
| Serving officers | Transferee adverts for Dounreay, Garlogie and St Fergus | NEOF roles: AFO CT, Tactical Firearms Unit, Special Escort Group, Marine Unit, National Firearms Instructor and Operational Support Unit |
| Instructors | National Firearms Instructor adverts at Dounreay and FTU North (Cumbria), both closing 16 November 2026 at 23:59 | National Firearms Instructor (NEOF) at several sites, no closing date |
| Note | The CNC says it has "reached establishment at several OPUs". Sellafield rolling recruitment was announced in March 2026 but no Sellafield advert was open on 23 October 2026 | Operational Support Unit online information session on Wednesday 4 November 2026, 6pm to 7pm (register by 11:45pm on Monday 2 November) |
Adverts without closing dates can still close without notice. Check the CNC job portal and the MOD Police current opportunities page before you plan around a site. English CNC candidates can set a job alert on the portal.
Size and trends
| Civil Nuclear Constabulary | MOD Police | |
|---|---|---|
| People | Over 1,800 officers and staff at 31 March 2026; about 1,200 officers (FOI, July 2025) | 2,139 officers in 2025, plus 196 civil servants |
| Trend | Officer attrition fell to 7% at March 2026 from 9% a year earlier | Officers fell from 2,768 (2021) to 2,139 (2025) |
| Recent recruitment | IFP pass rate over 80% (a 2025/26 KPI); intakes are numbered, IFP 109 started 2 February 2026 | 101 recruited against 125 in 2024-25; 109 to 14 December 2025 against 250 in 2025-26 |
| Why | Fewer adverts because several units are at full strength | Reviews to cut posts under a new operating model and other security providers replacing the MDP at some sites |
Both forces are recruiting less than in recent years, for different reasons. For the CNC, units reaching full strength; for the MDP, a smaller force overall. Neither trend tells you whether a given site will have a vacancy next month.
Which fits you: situation by situation
This is PolicePay's reading of the published facts above, not advice from either force. Where a rule rules you out, it says so; where it is a matter of preference, it says that too.
| Your situation | What the facts suggest |
|---|---|
| You are a dual national or not a British citizen | The MDP requires sole British nationality and a British passport, so it is closed to you. The CNC publishes no sole-British rule; its checks are against national nationality and right to work criteria plus a residence expectation for vetting. Of the two, only the CNC is open to you, subject to its checks. |
| You have lived abroad in the last five years | The MDP's five-year continuous residence rule is "strictly applied" (ten years for DV sites). The CNC's expectation of up to ten years depends on the vetting level. It says not meeting it does not stop an application, though extra checks follow. |
| You wear glasses | The CNC does not accept glasses for its eyesight standard: you would need contact lenses that meet it. The MDP states its standards as "aided or unaided". Check both with an optician and ask the MDP how it treats glasses. |
| You have no GCSE English or maths | The MDP needs Level 2 English and Maths at application. The CNC needs no qualifications and offers support. The CNC is open to you now; the MDP after you gain Level 2. |
| You want a predictable 4 on 4 off rota | The CNC publishes four 12-hour shifts on, four off. The MDP publishes a 40-hour week but not its pattern. |
| You want to work in Scotland | Every CNC new-recruit advert open on 23 October 2026 is Scottish, with a £5,000 allowance at Garlogie and St Fergus and relocation support to Dounreay. The MDP is recruiting at HMNB Clyde and RNAD Coulport. |
| You want to work in England now | The CNC had no English new-recruit advert open on 23 October 2026. The MDP lists seven English New Recruit sites. |
| You are a good runner but not especially strong | The CNC test is pure running to level 7.6. The MDP test is shorter but loaded: a 20 kg vest and a 76 kg drag. |
| You are strong but your running is weak | The MDP's PES-JRFT rewards leg and grip strength. The CNC's 7.6 bleep test is well above the 5.4 most forces set and is retested every year. |
| You already passed a College OAC elsewhere | The MDP accepts a full OAC pass from the last 12 months in place of its competency interview. For the CNC the OAC is one of its own stages. |
| You are a serving officer | Both have shorter routes. The CNC usually honours your pay and leave and has a six-month probation. MDP NEOF adverts start at point 4 with a 10-week course if you are not AFO qualified. Neither is in the Police Pension Scheme, so weigh the pension change carefully. |
| You are leaving the armed forces | Both hold Armed Forces Covenant Silver awards. The MDP says service leavers apply through its New Recruit route; the CNC describes no shortened process. |
| You care most about starting pay | The CNC starts higher (£32,256 against £30,643) but holds it for the two-year probation. The MDP adds allowances at some sites. Compare the actual site you would work at. |
The CNC says you may keep applications open with several forces up to the point of sitting an assessment centre, then you must choose one. The MDP says you may apply while applying elsewhere, if you keep its recruitment team informed. Be open with both.
Guides for each force
Civil Nuclear Constabulary
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, the CNC or the MOD Police?
Neither is better in general. They protect different things under different rules. The CNC publishes no sole-British nationality rule, needs no qualifications, uses the College online assessments and a 7.6 bleep test and publishes a four on four off shift pattern. The MDP requires sole British nationality and Level 2 English and Maths, has no online tests, uses a loaded fitness test and pays allowances at some sites. Which fits depends on your situation.
Do the CNC and the MOD Police pay the same?
No. The CNC pays £32,256 through the two-year probation, then £33,609 rising to £52,014. The MDP constable scale from 1 September 2026 runs from £30,643 to £49,413, with allowances at some sites such as the South East, London and priority postings.
Are all CNC and MOD Police officers armed?
Yes. Every CNC officer begins as an Authorised Firearms Officer and every MDP constable post is an Authorised Firearms Officer Counter Terrorism role.
Can a dual national join the CNC or the MOD Police?
Not the MOD Police: it requires sole British nationality with a valid British passport. The CNC publishes no sole-British rule. It checks nationality and right to work against national criteria and expects up to 10 years' UK residence depending on the vetting level, with extra checks possible if you do not meet that.
Which has the harder fitness test?
They test different things. The CNC needs level 7.6 on the bleep test at entry and every year, well above the usual 5.4. The MDP's PES-JRFT is cover and movement shuttles and a 76 kg casualty drag in 20 seconds, both wearing a 20 kg vest. A good runner may find the CNC test easier; a strong person may find the MDP test easier.
Which pension is better, CNC or MOD Police?
They are different schemes. CNC officers pay 8.2% into the UKAEA Combined Pension Scheme, which is due to move to alpha on a date not yet confirmed. MDP officers are in alpha, paying 4.6% at starting pay, with an employer-funded effective pension age of 65. Neither is the Police Pension Scheme. The right answer depends on your age, length of service and plans, so get independent advice for your own case.
Can I move between the CNC and the MOD Police?
Yes, both ways. The CNC lists the MDP among the forces whose serving officers can transfer. The MDP's NEOF route accepts officers from UK civilian forces including the CNC, if you have two years' service and probation and left no more than 36 months ago.
Which force is recruiting now?
On 23 October 2026 the CNC's open new-recruit adverts were all at Scottish sites (Dounreay, Garlogie and St Fergus). The MDP listed New Recruit AFO CT posts at nine sites in England and Scotland plus several NEOF roles. Neither showed a closing date for constable roles.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 23 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- CNC careers: Police officers : AFO from day one; eligibility; residency and vetting; qualifications; licence; tattoos; finances; 7.6 fitness every year; shifts; leave; IFP; specialisms; pay table (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC careers: Applying for a role : selection stages, National Sift, Online Assessment Centre, Recruitment Day, vetting up to three months (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC careers: Police officer transferees : transferee eligibility, process, training, pay and six-month probation; national eligibility criteria including nationality and right to work (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC pre-employment medical guidance, version 8 (PDF) : eyesight, fields, hearing, BMI, diabetes (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC job portal and adverts : open adverts on 23 October 2026; two years at the starting rate; £5,000 location allowance at Garlogie and St Fergus; relocation to Dounreay (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC apprenticeships overview (PDF) : IFP structure and delivery centres; apprenticeship in England; Scotland (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNPA Annual Report and Accounts 2025/26 : size, sites, role, surge capability, attrition, IFP pass rate, establishment, alpha move (accessed 23 October 2026)
- UKAEA pension scheme (Equiniti): about the scheme : 8.2% member and 20.7% employer contributions (accessed 23 October 2026)
- UKAEA pension scheme (Equiniti): alpha delay FAQs : move to alpha delayed; date expected to be confirmed in 2027 (accessed 23 October 2026)
- High Court: CNPF v CNPA [2016] EWHC 2186 (Admin) : CNC officers are not members of a police force for the pension age exception (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Energy Act 2004, section 56 : CNC jurisdiction (accessed 23 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Working for the CNC : five to eight months from application to post (accessed 23 October 2026)
- GOV.UK news: Sellafield recruitment opens (3 March 2026) : Sellafield rolling recruitment announcement (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC FOI 272: vetting (PDF) : police vetting by Thames Valley Police (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MOD Police: New Recruit entry criteria : nationality, residency, qualifications, licence, criminal record, finances, tattoos, OAC exemption (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MOD Police: New Recruit recruitment process : six stages, both interviews, medical and vetting, training length, apprenticeship, probation (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MOD Police: NEOF entry criteria : NEOF eligibility, 36-month rule, rejoiners (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MOD Police: NEOF training : 5-day conversion plus 9-week firearms course (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MOD Police: Fitness : PES-JRFT, attempts, annual JRFT, TFU 10.5 (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MOD Police: Medical : AFO medical standards (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MOD Police: UK Security Vetting : SC minimum, DV sites, DV failure and relocation (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MOD Police: Salary, allowances and pension : constable scale from 1 September 2026, allowances, overtime, unsocial hours, on-call, alpha (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MOD Police: Leave entitlement : 25 to 30 days (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MOD Police: Our locations : nine regions and stations (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MOD Police: Current opportunities : open New Recruit and NEOF roles on 23 October 2026 (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Civil Service Pensions: contribution rates : alpha member bands 2026/27 (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Defence Police Federation Circular 03/22 (PDF) : employer-funded effective pension age of 65 (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987, section 2 : MDP jurisdiction (accessed 23 October 2026)
- UK Parliament written answer 98164 : MDP officer numbers 2020 to 2025 and recruitment against target (accessed 23 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
Free tools for MOD Police and CNC applicants
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with the Ministry of Defence Police, the Ministry of Defence, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, the Civil Nuclear Police Authority, the Defence Police Federation, the Civil Nuclear Police Federation, the College of Policing or any other force. It does not recruit, vet or assess applicants. Every fact here comes from the force's own pages, GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk or the other sources listed, read on the date shown. Each force sets and changes its own process and pay: check its current pages and your own invitation before relying on anything here. Our practice questions are original PolicePay material, not questions used by either force. Details are as checked on 23 October 2026.