Celebrating our long serving MDP officers: Mike and Gwyn
Two of the MDP’s recently retired and longest serving officers attended the special 50th Anniversary pass out parade at MDP HQ on 3 September.
PC Michael Tinsley (Mike) and PC David Jones (Gwyn) retired from the MDP this summer, having served a whopping total of 93 years altogether! Mike served with the MDP for 47 years and Gwyn for 46. This makes them both two of our longest ever serving officers, with the late PS Ray Tidswell having served with the MDP for 48 years when he retired from the Force in 2014.
At the pass out parade event Mike and Gwyn were interviewed on British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) Radio and Chief Constable Andy Adams presented them with certificates of meritorious service.
Let’s look at the careers of these long serving and well-respected officers, as we wish them all the very best in their respective retirements.
PC Michael Tinsley (Mike)
1974: joined MDP, Fort Halstead
1985: Dog Handler, Swingate, Dover
1989: Royal Naval College Greenwich (including a detachment to CID Central London)
1993: Duke of York’s, Chelsea
1994–2021: Whitehall
Mike reflects on his 47-year MDP career, with more than half of that time served at Whitehall:
“When starting my MDP career in 1974, I joined a Force with a lot of older officers who had served in the Second World War, achieving the rank of sergeant or above, which in their time was part of the criteria for joining. Those officers could not understand at first why the MDP was recruiting civilians, but we worked together well, and they had plenty of interesting war stories to tell me. One of the officers served with my father in Lancaster bombers during the Second World War (small world!).
“There were no female officers in our force when I first joined. Uniform was very different too — there were no helmets, we had flat caps only, with no chequered hat band, and blue shirts with detachable collars and tunics with belts and a wooden truncheon. All officers received black shoes, boots and socks, and wellie boots and sea socks! We carried a 38 pistol with five rounds of ammunition. Our warrant card did not have a photograph.
“During the 27 years I have served in Whitehall, I have experienced so many different aspects of policing and have met a lot of different people from across the world. As you would expect, working in the capital, near Downing Street, Westminster and the hub of government departments, makes for a very varied and busy role where, as MDP officers, we do interact a lot with the public and our policing and security partners.
“My experiences at Whitehall have included being on duty during terrorist attacks throughout the decades, including the IRA Mortar Attack on Downing Street in 1991. Those were, of course, shocking times that you never forget, and our officers have always carried out their duties, in response to such incidents, with skill, dedication and professionalism.
“I have been involved in operational successes and life-saving actions over the years, for which I have received commendations and am very proud. Much of these were focused around the ‘street policing’ aspect of my duties. For example, I have saved a number of people from the River Thames over the years and in 1991 I received a Royal Humane Society award, for saving a person’s life where I had also been pulled into the water and had to keep hold of them before we were rescued by a police launch. I previously received a commendation from Chief Superintendent Sharon Taylor too, for my response to a man who was having a heart attack in Victoria Theatre and consequently recovered and traced me to express his thanks.
“Letters of appreciation from members of the public have meant a lot to me and one of my favourites was a letter sent to the Chief Constable from a young mum I met with her 6-year old son, who was calling over to me and saying hello. I went over to chat and had a picture with him. The boy’s mother explained that her son had a disability and that me taking the time to speak with them had meant the world to him, and that he hadn’t stopped talking about it and telling everyone.
“I’ve enjoyed my time with the Ministry of Defence Police and would recommend a career with our force to anyone wanting to join the police service.”
In his role as a Project Servator officer at Whitehall, Mike made a significant impact. His excellent deployment of the national policing tactic contributed to the “Highly Commended” Government Security Team Award for MDP Project Servator, received at the Government Security Conference Awards 2020, as well as the very positive feedback received from the National Project Servator Team. This resulted in the Forces’ Project Servator teams all receiving commendations from Assistant Chief Constable Ops, Dave Long. In his role at Whitehall, Mike regularly deployed with officers from the Metropolitan Police Service Westminster Project Servator team, and they referred to him as ‘a legend and the best person if you need help.”
As a colleague from Whitehall said:
“Micky T is very, very good at his job and has a heart of gold, he would help anyone in trouble. On the streets he was very much an old-fashioned copper. He has helped the homeless, people down on their luck, new officers and many more. He has an excellent sense of humour and will always be №1 at Whitehall. He is loved by many at Whitehall and in the Force. He will be missed”.
Acting Senior Police Officer at Whitehall, T/Chief Inspector Andy Wagon, said:
“I’ve had the pleasure of serving with Mike Tinsley since I started at Whitehall in 2006, by which time he was already into his second decade at the station. Speaking as a boss, you couldn’t hope for a harder working, more reliable officer who was keen to do his best for the Force, Defence and for the public, right up to the end of his service. Mike’s personality will be missed at Whitehall, he’s one of those characters who lights up the room when he comes in and lifts everyone’s spirits a little just through his presence and incisive humour. He’s been a constant at Whitehall — one of those colleagues that officers remember when they move on from here.
“Although he never went for promotion Mike exudes a natural leadership, and he has inspired, supported and assisted many colleagues at Whitehall over the years. He has been a popular and well-known ambassador for the MDP in and around Whitehall, where he has spent most of his distinguished policing career. I’m genuinely sad to see Mike leave us, but all good things must come to an end, one door closes, another opens and I am sure that everyone in the Force will join me in wishing Mike and his wife Sue a well-deserved, happy and productive retirement.”
PC David Jones (Gwyn)
1975: joined MDP, RAF Caerwent
1977: RAE Aberporth
1981: RAF Cosford
1984: P&EE Pendine
2002: Hereford Garrison
Reflecting on his 46 years’ of MDP service Gwyn said:
“Since I joined the MDP in 1975, as you would expect, the Force has moved on a lot. For example, I remember doing my first annual re-qualification shoot at Caerwent and the Inspector took us for the shoot at Beachley Army Camp, where we fired at targets on the estuary. On completion, we returned to station and placed the weapons back into the armoury, not to be seen for another twelve months, as we did not always carry a firearm whilst on duty in those days.
“My time at Pendine was particularly memorable. In my personal life I married my wife Annalee and we became parents to three children. Professionally, I carried out numerous detached duties, including deployments at RAF Molesworth, CND demonstrations, Whitehall, The War Office London and six months with our Criminal Investigations Department units at Malvern and Stafford at the time.
“Another example for me on how things in the Force have changed for the better, is with regards to our equipment and kit. I remember when I was at Pendine one of our roles was to clear the beach of personnel every morning before the ranges became active, and as you can imagine we were doing this in all weathers. You would be driving vehicles with large holes in the floor pan below you and, more often than not, you would therefore be soaked, hence we wore over trousers inside the vehicle!
“I was posted to HQ Hereford Garrison in 2002 and after serving nearly 20 years at that station, on 31 August 2021 I hung up my policing boots. Hereford was the station where I served for the longest time and, not decrying any of the other stations, it was the most satisfying and rewarding location I have worked at. I enjoyed working with all the officers there, past and present. It has also been an honour and a privilege to have worked and made friends with all the regiments and support staff.
“Whilst at Hereford I have carried out further detached duties, including deployments to RAF Fairford during the Gulf War, support to Staffordshire Constabulary, on two occasions as part of Operation Temperer, and numerous deployments and exercises with the regiment throughout the UK.
“That sums up a small percentage of what I have done within the Ministry of Defence Police over the last 46 years. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Force, where I’ve been privileged to meet VIPs and famous people and, most importantly, I have made loads of friends. I wish everyone within the MDP — officers and civilian support staff — all the very best for the future.”
Interested in starting your policing career with the MDP?
Our recruitment campaign re-opens for candidate registration and pre-screening on 20 September. Visit www.mod.police.uk to find out more.
Follow #ForceWithADifference and #MDP50 on Facebook and Twitter.
Further information
50 years delivering unique specialist policing — #MDP50 Campaign Launch
Reflections on 50 years of the MDP by Chief Constable Andy Adams
A brief history of the Ministry of Defence Police | July 2021 | Medium
Talk Through: the magazine of the Ministry of Defence Police
