This review also increased our complement, again on paper only, from our current total of 20 men to the 26 men which the MPGS would require. That is hardly a convincing start to a genuine experiment by a pilot project. If it has been properly costed the Minister must surely give us a firm estimated date. He will know that many informed people doubt whether it will ever break even. This brings us to wider issues.
MoD police are civilian police constables and police officers trained in the use of firearms.
The firearms fall into the whole discipline, skill and professionalism of police work. That is a vital safeguard. The MoD police are subject to the Police Complaints Authority. As we understand it, while Army personnel recruited to MPGS may not have had formal, dedicated training in guarding, civilian recruits will be required to take an MoD guard service foundation course in addition to their other training. I gather the Government have said that they aim to have as the minimum standard of training for the MPGS the national vocational qualification guarding level 2.