Job Title: VRES Specialist Recovery Driver
Salary: The starting salary is £43,880, which includes allowances totalling £10,661.
The salary is broken down as £33,219 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £35,541. Plus, a shift disturbance of 12.5%, £3,500 market allowance, a location allowance of £2,009 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.
Location: Charlton Car Pound SE7 7HY
**ALL APPLICANTS MUST HOLD MINIMUM C+E ON THEIR DRIVING LICENCE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE ROLE (HGV Class 1)**
Could you recover vehicles from all over London?
Vehicle Recovery Examination Services (VRES) is a key part of the MPS drive to tackle vehicle crime on the streets of London working in partnership with several external agencies and MPS contractors to remove, recover, restore and dispose of vehicles that are involved in collisions, those involved in serious and organised crime that require forensic examinations or those that are seized under Police powers for no insurance or unlicensed. We support Frontline policing and operate 24/7/365, we have our own unique in-house policing team and a command-and-control team. We operate out of two forensic car pounds, Perivale, and Charlton. Processing over 40,000 vehicles, we deal with everything, from two-wheel bikes all the way up to and including HGV’s. Our work has a direct impact upon the service the MPS delivers Londoners, and it is vital we can continue to deliver this service to meet current and future demands.
Right now, it is a particularly exciting time to join the team. We are currently undergoing a full business review aimed at identifying smarter ways of working and potential new growth opportunities both internal and externally. We are looking for a highly qualified, experienced, and responsible individual to join our team as a Specialist Recovery driver. This unique role will provide the role holder to a front seat in supporting the delivery of our service to frontline policing in both proactive and reactive operations.
This is an incredibly demanding and challenging role, but you will be rewarded with an immensely satisfying and varied job that is never dull, as well as having the opportunity to make a real difference to the community, to London and to the Met itself.
Being a Specialist Recovery Driver is a demanding job, but an incredibly varied one. For example, you could be asked to go to crime scenes or major public events such as the Notting Hill Carnival. You’ll also be working in all weathers and dealing with the public. It’s important that you remain calm, courteous, and professional, whatever the situation. It’s also essential that you can write clear, concise reports, as they could be required in criminal cases. This and other paperwork must be accurate and dealt with efficiently. And naturally, you’ll need to drive safely, obeying the Highway Code and traffic laws. We’ll also be looking for exceptional manual handling skills and in-depth knowledge of safe loading.
Wherever you go, whatever the challenge, you’ll recover vehicles swiftly and professionally in our brand new, fully liveried trucks. In return, you’ll enjoy a role that’s different every day. Your work will help communities and keep the roads of London safe. Join us and be part of our hard-working team.
Additional Information
Due to business reasons please be aware there is a tenure period of 2 years for this role. This will be confirmed at the time of posting, and it is the expectation that normally the officer or staff member will be able to commit to the tenure, as a minimum. Tenure agreements are subject to annual review and may be changed at any time for reasons other than career development, such as considerable investment in training.
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/or Personal Statement.
Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 4th August 2026.
Once received, your application will be reviewed against eligibility criteria, following this, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager. The application review for this vacancy will commence 2 weeks after closing date
Following application review, successful candidates will be invited to interview. Interview dates will commence 2 weeks after CBQ sift
