VRES Specialist Recovery Driver in Charlton

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

Eligibility: All applicants must hold a minimum C+E on their driving licence to be considered for the role (HGV Class 1).

About the Role: Vehicle Recovery Examination Services (VRES) is a key part of the Met Police’s drive to tackle vehicle crime on the streets of London. Working in partnership with external agencies and Met Police contractors, we remove, recover, restore and dispose of vehicles involved in collisions, serious and organised crime, forensic examinations or those seized under Police powers. We support frontline policing and operate 24/7/365 from our forensic car pounds in Perivale and Charlton, processing over 40,000 vehicles ranging from two‑wheel bikes to HGVs. Our work directly impacts the service the Met delivers to Londoners and keeps the roads safe. We are currently undergoing a business review to identify smarter ways of working and new growth opportunities. We are looking for a highly qualified, experienced and responsible individual to join our team as a Specialist Recovery Driver. This unique role will place the holder at the front seat of supporting the delivery of our service to frontline policing in both proactive and reactive operations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Recover vehicles swiftly and professionally from crime scenes or major public events such as the Notting Hill Carnival.
• Work in all weathers and deal with the public, maintaining calm, courteous and professional conduct at all times.
• Write clear, concise reports and handle all required paperwork accurately and efficiently.
• Drive safely, obeying the Highway Code and traffic laws.
• Use exceptional manual handling skills and in‑depth knowledge of safe loading.

Qualifications:

• Hold a DVLA driving licence with a minimum of Categories C+E (HGV Class 1) and no more than six points.
• Capability to undertake manual handling tasks including moving goods and equipment.
• Basic IT skills, including MS Office, vehicle deployment/navigation systems and Met Police Airwave Radio systems.
• Pass Met Police Personal Safety and Emergency Life Support training.
• Previous experience of vehicle recovery, particularly in Police work.
• Hold relevant Institute of Vehicle Recovery Modules.
• Hold VR21 Recovery Incident Manager Certificate.

Additional Information: Due to business reasons, there is a ten-year period for this role. The tenure will be confirmed at the time of posting and normally the officer or staff member is expected to commit to this minimum. Tenure agreements are subject to annual review and may be changed at any time for reasons other than career development, such as substantial investment in training.

Disability Confident Statement: The Met is committed to being an equitable and inclusive employer for disabled people, striving to have a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and long‑term conditions, ethnic minority groups and women. As a Disability Confident Leader, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of everyday practice, ensuring that people with disabilities and those with long‑term conditions have opportunities to fulfil their potential. The Met is committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process to ensure disabled applicants can perform at their best. If you require any reasonable adjustments or changes to the application and recruitment process, please include this information within your application form. All matters will be treated in strict confidence.