Job Title: Surveillance Motorcyclist – Specialist Crime Proactive -01
Salary: The starting salary is £40,519, which includes allowances totalling £3,009.
The salary is broken down as £37,510 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £40,141. Plus, a location allowance of £2,009 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.
Location: Barking, Hendon, Lewisham, Putney, Other
Contract: 2 years fixed term
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Specialist Crime Proactive Team within Specialist Crime of the Metropolitan Police on a 2-year fixed term contract. This role may also be subject to an additional financial supplement.
We are looking for surveillance motorcyclists who will deliver motorcycle surveillance in support of proactive investigations targeting serious organised crime and high-harm offenders. The role focuses on gathering, assessing and reporting intelligence to disrupt criminal activity and safeguard the public, ensuring compliance with covert policing legislation. The successful individuals will also exercise independent judgement in urgent safety situations while working under the supervision of a Detective Sergeant.
This role requires the postholder to work flexible/overtime hours at short notice. As such, you will benefit from an additional £5,000 market allowance on top of the base salary, plus overtime pay to be agreed/discussed at interview stage.
Working for the Met doesn’t have to mean patrolling the streets. Just as important as our uniformed officers is our 14,000-strong team of professional and support staff working behind the scenes. It’s these skilled people who provide the organisational capability to police London.
Duties and Responsibilities:
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Conduct authorised covert motorcycle surveillance operations to track and monitor suspects, ensuring evidence and intelligence are captured safely and lawfully.
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Apply advanced driving and surveillance techniques to maintain covert integrity and minimise risk of compromise.
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Identify and assess risks during operations, making immediate decisions to protect public and officer safety.
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Contribute intelligence to case files, producing accurate logs and reports to support prosecutions and operational reviews.
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Work collaboratively with surveillance teams, syndicate detectives, firearms units and intelligence officers, Specialist Crime Proactive officers, Borough Command Unit (BCU) officers, Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCU) and National Crime Agency (NCA) units where appropriate to ensure operational effectiveness.
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Operate in accordance with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) and associated covert policing guidance, escalating concerns appropriately.
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Participate in on-call rota (1 week in 6), ensuring readiness for fast-time deployments in high-risk operations.
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Undertake mandatory and developmental training, including surveillance refresher courses, to maintain accreditation.
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Support organisational commitments to reducing violence and disrupting SOC, in line with the MPS SOC strategy.
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Manage and maintain allocated motorcycle, personal protective equipment (helmet, clothing, radio, PPE) and surveillance kit to ensure operational readiness.
Who we're looking for:
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Understanding of covert policing legislation (RIPA, IPA) and surveillance protocols
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Accredited motorcycle surveillance skills (national standard).
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Accredited mobile surveillance skills (national standard).
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Ability to assess and respond to risk in dynamic situations.
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Clear, accurate recording and reporting of intelligence.
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Ability to work collaboratively in high-pressure environments.
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Previous experience as a Substantive Constable/Detective Constable with operational proactive policing experience.
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Experience of working in intelligence-led or proactive investigative environments.
The below are qualifications required for this role:
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Nationally recognised accreditation as surveillance officer.
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Nationally recognised accreditation as surveillance motorcyclist.
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Occupationally competent as a surveillance officer.
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Occupationally competent as a surveillance motorcyclist.
Benefits:
You will enjoy the kind of great benefits that you’d expect from one of London's largest employers.
These include.
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Annual leave entitlement of 28 days plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 5 years of service
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Civil service pension arrangements
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Interest free season ticket loans
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Membership of Met sports and social clubs
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Flexible working conditions and many more.
London is one of the most exciting and diverse cities in the world – and policing it is no easy task. It takes a huge number of people from all sorts of different backgrounds with a wide range of skills and experience. Do you have what it takes to be one of them? Find out if a career with the Met is what you’re looking for and what kind of challenges; experience and rewards you could have in store.
Vetting
This post requires access to the most sensitive intelligence material on a daily basis. Applicants must hold or be prepared to undergo National Security Vetting (NSV) Security Check (enhanced) (SC(e)) level before taking up the post.
How to apply
To begin your career at the Met, please click the "apply button “. The application process requires a comprehensive CV, a Personal Statement, and an online application form. In your Personal Statement, you should explain your interest in the position and illustrate how your skills and experiences make you a suitable candidate. Please note that you should not submit two copies of your CV, and ensure that your documents are saved in either PDF or Word format, clearly labelled as CV and Personal Statement.
Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 25th June 2026.
Closing date: In order to streamline our recruitment process, we reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications.
www.metpolicecareers.co.uk
