Uptree

Placement details

Overview

Location: London

Please note that the location of this opportunity is confidential and will be confirmed directly if you are successful. The address shown above is for illustrative purposes only. Travel is common in this role. Homeworking isn’t available due to the nature of the work.

Start Date: January 2026

Application Criteria: 

• You need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality
• A full UK manual driving licence and should have no more than three points on your licence.
• You must not have any distinguishing features such as tattoos on your face, neck or hands would make you more recognisable to someone who is under surveillance.
• If you identify as a man, you will need to be 6’2” or under and if you identify as a woman, you must be 5’10” or under.
• You’ll need to undertake a Fitness for Role medical, and your hearing and eyesight will be tested as part of the recruitment process. 
• You don’t need any previous higher qualifications to join this programme

Key Skills: 

• Ability to develop relationships
• Communication
• Decision-making
• Love of learning
• Observation
• Map reading ability (using an 'A-Z' map)
• Multi-tasking
• Teamwork

Application deadine: Friday 22nd August 2025 (it may close early if a high volume of applications come through - we advise applying as soon as possible!)

How to apply: click 'Apply' at the top of this page! Make sure to select Uptree as your 'application source' when applying!

 

About the Mobile Surveillance Officer role

Surveillance is a key investigative resource that we UK's Intelligence Agencies use to protect against threats to the UK. It involves blending into the environment, observing people and places, and reporting back to Intelligence Officers. It’s interesting, varied work where you’ll travel and complete surveillance out and about, on foot or in the car. With your key objective being to follow subjects who’ve been identified as potential threats to national security, you’ll be able to feel your impact on MI5’s mission work every day.

This is a unique, one-of-a-kind role where you will be able to develop skills and experience on the job. You will also be earning a salary of £44,393.

To begin with, you’ll attend an intensive 20-week training programme, where you’ll learn how to turn your existing skills to surveillance. You'll be taught how to safely observe and blend into your surroundings – and keeping you safe is a priority. Plus, you’ll get the chance to bond with your fellow officers, which will be important as you’ll be working closely with and always looking out for one another.  

 

About the UK’s Intelligence Agencies

The UK Intelligence Agencies, MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, work together to keep the country safe. Their highly trained staff use cutting edge techniques to uncover and stop plans to harm our people, buildings and computer systems, both in the UK and around the world.

Whilst all three Agencies have the same mission, each Agency has a different set of tools they can use and each one focuses on a slightly different area. MI5 stops threats from inside the UK, MI6 protects our people overseas and GCHQ looks after our Cyber security. It’s incredibly important work, although most people will never know what they do.

You can find out more about the UK's Intelligence Agencies by visiting their Company Profile page.

 

Next Steps

Click ‘Apply’ at the top of this page! Make sure to select Uptree as your 'application source' when applying!