MI5 seeks public to train as undercover operatives, offering role for those who can blend into the background

MI5 has launched a recruitment drive inviting members of the public to train as undercover operatives, with a focus on mobile surveillance officers who may follow suspects on foot or in cars across the United Kingdom. The Security Service says the only formal qualification needed is the ability to blend into the background, and those who pass a six-month selection process will play a key role in counterterrorism operations.

The agency has advertised the program on Instagram and on its own site, highlighting that surveillance is a core investigative resource in protecting the country from terrorism and espionage. MI5 notes that MSOs are used on most covert operations and have contributed to the capture of some of the most dangerous individuals planning attacks in the UK. The recruitment effort indicates that candidates from varied backgrounds — ex-military personnel, police, graduates and young entrants — could be eligible, provided they can integrate into everyday environments without drawing attention.

MI5 describes the job as varied: MSOs may be out on foot or in a car, and where they are and what they are doing depends on who they are following and why. The agency emphasizes that blending into the surroundings naturally is a central skill, and that those who become MSOs will experience significant variety in daily duties while contributing to national security. A spokesperson for the service said that surveillance remains one of MI5’s key investigative resources in mitigating threats to national security posed by terrorism and espionage.

According to MI5, the six-month training course for MSOs is rigorous and demanding, described by current personnel as physically and mentally exhausting. A surveillance officer who recently completed the course told the agency’s recruitment page that the experience involved intense preparation and long days, including extended periods of foot surveillance in major cities.

A psychology graduate who recently passed the MSO course described the first days as a whirlwind, noting that new officers must quickly adjust to the realities of undercover work. The trainee said, “My first day was a whirlwind and I had no idea what I was letting myself in for. It’s not every day you walk 25,000 steps a day around London over two weeks and have someone on your shoulder assessing your every decision.” Such firsthand accounts underscore the physical and mental demands of the role, which MI5 says are integral to its effectiveness in tracking suspects.

MI5’s online postings stress that the MSO program seeks to broaden the pool of people who can contribute to national security by focusing on the core ability to blend into environments rather than requiring specialized prior qualifications. The agency notes that the work can span on-foot and vehicular surveillance, with assignments varying by the individuals being followed and the operational needs of ongoing investigations. The recruitment also underscores that public participation in counterterrorism efforts is viewed as a capability to strengthen the United Kingdom’s protection against threats from terrorism and espionage. The program’s long-standing emphasis on discretion and adaptability reflects the evolving nature of undercover operations in modern security challenges.