MOD Police
Stations and Locations
The Ministry of Defence Police polices defence sites across the UK, not a county. Where you work depends on where the MDP has vacancies and which sites your vetting allows. This guide lists every station the MDP publishes, where it is recruiting now, which sites need Developed Vetting and the allowances some sites attract. Read from the MDP's pages on 23 October 2026.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 23 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
The MDP lists 23 stations and units in nine regions, from HMNB Clyde and RNAD Coulport in Scotland to Devonport in the South West, with headquarters at RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire and training at Southwick Park, Hampshire. On 23 October 2026 New Recruit firearms officers were wanted at HMNB Clyde, RNAD Coulport, Barrow-in-Furness, Fylingdales, Raynesway, AWE Aldermaston, AWE Burghfield, Porton Down and Welford. AWE, Menwith Hill and RNAD Coulport need Developed Vetting.
The nine MDP regions and their stations
The MDP says it operates in nine regions throughout the UK. Its locations page lists these stations and units:
| Region | Stations and units | Listed |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland (Central) | Clyde (HMNB Clyde, Faslane); Coulport (RNAD Coulport); Clyde Marine Unit | 3 |
| England North West | Barrow in Furness | 1 |
| England North East | Fylingdales; Menwith Hill | 2 |
| England Central West | Hereford; Raynesway (Derby) | 2 |
| England Central East | Alconbury; Croughton; Mildenhall | 3 |
| England London | Whitehall | 1 |
| England Central South | Aldermaston; Burghfield | 2 |
| England South East | Oakhanger; Porton Down; Portsmouth; Portsmouth Marine Unit | 4 |
| England South West | Corsham; Devonport; Devonport Marine Unit; Fairford; Welford | 5 |
A few names need explaining. The MDP's Clyde Group page also names HMNB Clyde as Faslane. The Marine Units page calls RNAD Coulport "DM Coulport". Aldermaston and Burghfield together form the AWE Group in Berkshire.
Headquarters and training
RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire
MDP Headquarters is at RAF Wyton. New Recruits go there for the face-to-face suitability interview and the Operational Support Unit (firearms, search and public order, plus mutual aid to Home Office forces) is based there. The MDP does not say whether RAF Wyton is also a police station in the usual sense.
Southwick Park, Hampshire
Initial training is at the Defence School of Policing and Security (DSPS), Southwick Park. The Southwick Park vacancy page calls it the Defence School of Policing, Security and Guarding. It also trains the Royal Navy Police, the Royal Military Police and the RAF Police. The 12-week course is residential, with travel, food and accommodation provided.
Firearms training hubs
The 9-week Initial Firearms Course runs at one of the MDP's regional hubs or training centres. If you are not within commuting distance you may stay in residential accommodation. The MDP does not name the hubs.
The three Marine Units
The MDP has three Marine Units: Clyde, Portsmouth and Devonport. It describes them as the UK's largest marine police capability. Marine officers are Waterborne AFO CT (WAFO CT) on an RYA-accredited two-year pathway, from 3rd Crew to Launch Coxswain and RHIB Coxswain.
Marine roles are currently advertised through the NEOF route. They need a swim test and a marine medical before an offer. On 23 October 2026 the vacancy map showed one vacancy each at the Portsmouth and Devonport Marine Units.
Other places named in adverts and pay
Some places appear in MDP adverts or on the pay page but not on the locations list. We list them as the MDP names them:
| Place | Where it is named |
|---|---|
| Peterhead (Aberdeenshire) | NEOF AFO CT advert |
| Carlisle | NEOF AFO CT advert |
| Preston | NEOF AFO CT advert |
| Imphal Barracks, York | NEOF National Firearms Instructor advert |
| Donnington (Shropshire) | NEOF National Firearms Instructor advert |
| Vulcan, Dounreay | Priority posting allowance on the pay page |
| Southwick Park (Hampshire) | Training: the Defence School of Policing and Security |
| RAF Wyton (Cambridgeshire) | MDP Headquarters; the Operational Support Unit |
The region label conflict: Porton Down and Welford
The MDP's own pages disagree on regions. The New Recruit advert puts Porton Down and Welford under "South East". The locations page lists Welford under England South West. We use the locations page for regions throughout this guide. It does not change where the sites are, but it matters if you are searching the MDP's pages by region.
Developed Vetting sites
Every MDP officer needs Security Check (SC) clearance. Some sites also need Developed Vetting (DV). The MDP names three as examples:
- AWE (Aldermaston and Burghfield), England Central South
- Menwith Hill, England North East
- RNAD Coulport, Scotland (Central)
Postings to DV sites need 10 years' continuous UK residence instead of 5. DV is processed after your station is confirmed and SC is granted. If you do not achieve DV, the MDP says you would be offered another posting suited to your clearance, with no entitlement to relocation expenses. It advises against committing to a house move until clearance for your posting is confirmed. The MDP does not publish a full DV site list. See our vetting guide.
US Visiting Forces bases
The MDP says some officers work at United States Visiting Forces (USVF) bases and that officers there need a Common Access Card (CAC), which requires giving personal information to the USVF authorities.
The MDP does not say which of its sites are USVF bases, so we do not list them. If you are offered a site and want to know whether a CAC is needed, ask the MDP.
Vacancies by site on the MDP's map
The MDP's locations page carries a vacancy map. On 23 October 2026 it showed:
| Site or group | Vacancies shown |
|---|---|
| AWE Group | 5 |
| Clyde Group | 3 |
| Barrow-in-Furness | 2 |
| Raynesway | 2 |
| Porton Down | 2 |
| Headquarters | 1 (a civil servant post) |
| Southwick Park | 1 (the page shows a NEOF heading with no role link) |
| Portsmouth Marine Unit | 1 |
| Devonport Marine Unit | 1 |
| Mildenhall | 0 |
These are counts of listed vacancies, not numbers of posts to be filled. The MDP does not publish how many officers each campaign will hire. The Headquarters vacancy is a civil servant post, not a police officer role. What the single Southwick Park vacancy is, the MDP's page does not make clear.
Roles open by location
| Role | Route | Where |
|---|---|---|
| PC Authorised Firearms Officer Counter Terrorism | New Recruit | HMNB Clyde; RNAD Coulport; Barrow-in-Furness; Fylingdales; Raynesway (Derby); AWE Aldermaston; AWE Burghfield; Porton Down; Welford |
| PC Tactical Firearms Unit AFO CT | New Recruit | AWE Group, Berkshire |
| PC Authorised Firearms Officer Counter Terrorism | NEOF | HMNB Clyde; RNAD Coulport; Peterhead; Barrow-in-Furness; Carlisle; Preston; Fylingdales; Whitehall; Raynesway; AWE Aldermaston; AWE Burghfield; Porton Down; Welford |
| PC Tactical Firearms Unit AFO CT | NEOF | AWE Group (10-week specialist training) |
| PC Special Escort Group AFO CT | NEOF | AWE Aldermaston (C, C1 and D1 licence entitlements or willingness to gain them) |
| PC Marine Unit AFO CT | NEOF | Clyde, Portsmouth and Devonport Marine Units (swim test and marine medical before an offer) |
| PC National Firearms Instructor | NEOF | HMNB Clyde; Imphal Barracks York; Donnington; AWE Aldermaston; AWE Burghfield; HMNB Portsmouth; HMNB Devonport; Fairford |
| PC Operational Support Unit Officer | NEOF | RAF Wyton (online information session Wednesday 4 November 2026, 6pm to 7pm; register by 11:45pm Monday 2 November 2026) |
New Recruits are people with no previous police service, including service leavers. NEOF is the New Entrant from Other Forces route for serving officers and those who left within 36 months. See our recruitment process guide and NEOF transfer guide.
Allowances linked to sites
The MDP has one constable pay scale, but some sites carry allowances. These are the site-linked allowances on the MDP pay page (rates from 1 September 2026):
| Allowance | A year | Where |
|---|---|---|
| South East Allowance (Higher) | £3,105 | Croughton; AWE Group, Berkshire (including SEG and TFU); Welford. |
| South East Allowance (Lower) | £2,070 | Oakhanger, Portsmouth and Southwick Park. |
| Priority posting allowance | £3,000 | AWE Group (including TFU and SEG) and Barrow-in-Furness. Paid pro rata while based there and eligible. |
| Priority posting allowance | £2,000 | Vulcan, Dounreay and the Special Escort Group (the MDP page says "Specialist Escort Group"). |
| MDP London Allowance | £4,490 | The DPF calls it the maximum London Allowance. |
| MDP London Weighting | £3,261 | Which postings qualify is not stated in the sources we read. |
Priority posting allowances are paid pro rata while you are based at the site and eligible.
Worked examples (our arithmetic)
Starting pay for a New Recruit constable is point 2 of the MDP scale, £30,643. Adding only the site allowances above:
| Site | Sum | Total a year |
|---|---|---|
| AWE Aldermaston or Burghfield | £30,643 + £3,105 + £3,000 | £36,748 |
| Barrow-in-Furness | £30,643 + £3,000 | £33,643 |
| Welford or Croughton | £30,643 + £3,105 | £33,748 |
| Portsmouth or Oakhanger | £30,643 + £2,070 | £32,713 |
| A site with no site allowance on the pay page (for example Clyde, Fylingdales, Raynesway or Porton Down) | £30,643 | £30,643 |
Our AWE total matches the lower end of the New Recruit Tactical Firearms Unit advert range (£36,748). The MDP does not break the advert figure down, so treat that as a coincidence of the numbers rather than a statement of how it is built. These totals leave out unsocial hours pay (10% of base hourly rate for each full hour between 9pm and 5am), on-call pay and overtime. Use the MOD Police pay calculator for a fuller estimate.
Postings and moves: what is and is not published
The MDP does not publish its mobility terms on the pages we read. We do not say officers must relocate, because the MDP does not say so. What it does say:
- DV can come later: DV is needed if you are later posted to a site with higher security requirements. That shows later postings can happen.
- A DV fail changes your first posting: you are offered another posting suited to your clearance, with no relocation expenses.
- Some specialist roles mean time away: the Special Escort Group, based at AWE Aldermaston, involves extended time away from home.
If where you live matters to you, ask the MDP how postings work before you accept an offer. Do not commit to a house move until your posting and clearance are confirmed.
Officer numbers and honest context
Before choosing the MDP, it helps to know the force has been shrinking. A written answer to Parliament (98164, answered 29 April 2026) gave these officer numbers:
| Year | Officers |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2,643 |
| 2021 | 2,768 |
| 2022 | 2,701 |
| 2023 | 2,593 |
| 2024 | 2,407 |
| 2025 | 2,139 |
The same answer gave recruitment against target:
| Year | Recruited | Target |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 320 | 320 |
| 2021-22 | 244 | 250 |
| 2022-23 | 252 | 270 |
| 2023-24 | 121 | 275 originally (replaced in year by site-specific targets) |
| 2024-25 | 101 | 125 |
| 2025-26 (to 14 December 2025) | 109 | 250 |
The answer said targets fell because of reviews to cut MDP posts under a new operating police model and the replacement of the MDP by other security providers at some sites. In plain terms: recruitment is small and driven by particular sites. The sites recruiting now are listed above.
Choosing where to apply
Our suggestions, not MDP guidance:
- Start with what is open. Apply where the MDP is recruiting now, from the roles table above.
- Check residency against DV. With fewer than 10 years' UK residence, the AWE sites and RNAD Coulport are not open to you.
- Compare total pay. The AWE Group carries two allowances; some sites carry none.
- Think about living costs and travel as well as allowances. A higher allowance in a costly area may not go further.
- Ask about the site's future. Parliament has been told some sites are moving to other security providers.
- Plan for training away from home: 12 weeks residential at Southwick Park, then the firearms course at a regional hub.
Knowing the sites and why they matter also helps in the suitability interview, which covers your understanding of the force. See our interview guide.
What the MDP does not publish
- Mobility terms: how and when officers are moved between sites.
- Which sites are US Visiting Forces bases.
- A full list of DV sites beyond AWE, Menwith Hill and RNAD Coulport.
- Where the regional firearms training hubs are.
- Whether RAF Wyton is a police station as well as headquarters.
- Shift patterns at each site.
- How many posts each campaign will fill, or closing and intake dates.
- Which postings attract the London allowances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are MOD Police stations?
The MDP lists 23 stations and units in nine regions: Scotland (Central), England North West, North East, Central West, Central East, London, Central South, South East and South West. They include HMNB Clyde, RNAD Coulport, Barrow in Furness, Fylingdales, Menwith Hill, Raynesway, Croughton, Whitehall, AWE Aldermaston and Burghfield, Porton Down, Portsmouth, Devonport and Welford.
Where is the MOD Police headquarters?
RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire. The suitability interview for New Recruits takes place there and it is the base of the Operational Support Unit.
Where is MOD Police training?
Initial training is at the Defence School of Policing and Security, Southwick Park, Hampshire: a 12-week residential course. The 9-week Initial Firearms Course is at one of the regional hubs or training centres, which the MDP does not name.
Which MOD Police sites need Developed Vetting?
The MDP names AWE, Menwith Hill and RNAD Coulport as examples of DV sites. It does not publish a full list. DV sites need 10 years' UK residence instead of 5.
Where is the MOD Police recruiting now?
On 23 October 2026 the New Recruit AFO CT advert named HMNB Clyde, RNAD Coulport, Barrow-in-Furness, Fylingdales, Raynesway (Derby), AWE Aldermaston, AWE Burghfield, Porton Down and Welford. The New Recruit Tactical Firearms Unit role is at the AWE Group. None had a closing date.
Do MOD Police officers have to relocate?
The MDP does not publish its mobility terms. Its vetting page says DV is needed if you are later posted to a site with higher security requirements, which shows later postings can happen. If you do not pass DV for your first posting, you are offered another posting with no relocation expenses.
Do some MOD Police sites pay more?
Yes. The pay page lists a South East Allowance of £3,105 at Croughton, the AWE Group and Welford and £2,070 at Oakhanger, Portsmouth and Southwick Park. Priority posting allowances are £3,000 at the AWE Group and Barrow-in-Furness and £2,000 at Vulcan, Dounreay and for the Special Escort Group.
Does the MOD Police have a marine unit?
Three: Clyde, Portsmouth and Devonport. Officers are Waterborne AFO CT on an RYA-accredited two-year pathway. Marine roles need a swim test and a marine medical before an offer.
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.
- MDP: Our locations (regional list and vacancy map) : nine regions and their stations; vacancy map counts on 23 October 2026 (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: Clyde Group vacancies : HMNB Clyde also named Faslane (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: AWE Group vacancies : Aldermaston and Burghfield together as the AWE Group, Berkshire (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: Headquarters vacancies : HQ at RAF Wyton; civil servant vacancy (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: Southwick Park vacancies : the Defence School of Policing, Security and Guarding (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: New Recruit training : DSPS Southwick Park; 12-week residential course; trains the Royal Navy Police, Royal Military Police and RAF Police (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: Firearms training : 9-week Initial Firearms Course at regional hubs or training centres (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: Marine Units : Clyde, Portsmouth and Devonport; WAFO CT; RYA-accredited two-year pathway; DM Coulport (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: New Recruit AFO CT advert : New Recruit locations; region labels for Porton Down and Welford (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: New Recruit Tactical Firearms Unit advert : AWE Group; advert range £36,748 to £55,518 (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: NEOF AFO CT advert : NEOF locations including Peterhead, Carlisle, Preston and Whitehall (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: NEOF National Firearms Instructor advert : Imphal Barracks York; Donnington (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: NEOF Operational Support Unit advert : RAF Wyton; information session 4 November 2026 (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: NEOF Special Escort Group advert : AWE Aldermaston; licence entitlements (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: NEOF Marine Unit advert : swim test and marine medical before an offer (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: Current opportunities : roles listed with no closing date (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: Salary, allowances and pension : constable point 2; South East, priority posting and London allowances (rates from 1 September 2026) (accessed 23 October 2026)
- DPF Circular 33/26, MDP pay award 2026/27 : allowance sites and amounts (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: UK Security Vetting : DV for specific sites; DV fail means another posting with no relocation expenses; DV if later posted to a higher-security site (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: Police vetting : Common Access Card at US Visiting Forces bases (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: New Recruit entry criteria : DV sites named: AWE, Menwith Hill, RNAD Coulport; 10 years' residence (accessed 23 October 2026)
- MDP: New Recruit recruitment process : suitability interview at RAF Wyton (accessed 23 October 2026)
- UK Parliament written answer 98164 : officer numbers 2020 to 2025; recruitment against target; replacement by other security providers at some sites (accessed 23 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
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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.