MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
OLD WAR OFFICE BUILDING
WHITEHALL LONDON SW1A 2EU

Robert Key Esq MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

Thank you for your letter of 2 April (reference: RK/SJA/MOD/M), about Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) policing and levels of support at DSTL Porton Down.

I would once again emphasise that I understand your concerns about changes to the MDP presence and patrols in the garrison towns of South Wiltshire. The MDP Divisional Commanders will endeavour to offer an appropriate level of service whenever possible to assist in all the divisional policing requirements in their area of responsibility. MDP responsibilities are divided into the two categories specified by the Quinquennial Review. Policing 'primary' crime is the first MDP responsibility, meaning the application of civil police training and constabulary powers to combat the principal risks of crime and disorder faced by the MOD. Other crime should be primarily the responsibility of the Home Department Police, assisted by MDP, as availability and other commitments permit. Certainly the introduction of DSGs have not had, nor will they have any impact on the MDP complement at Porton Down.

As an MOD Police Force the MDP will provide additional resources to enable Home Department police officers to support Garrisons with MoD related crime issues. MDP are willing to consider establishing a permanent complement on any given site where there is both the need and the essential funding.

The Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS) provide armed guards for specific sites nominated by HQ Land Command. Generally these are sites that are of sufficient importance or interest to justify an armed guard presence, for example, where there are soldiers living in accommodation. MPGS are not provided for the security of married quarters but may pass through them on unarmed external patrols for example to check the perimeter fence and possible mortar base plate locations.

Armed MPGS are not allowed outside the barrack area, unless a Memorandum of Understanding is held with the local Chief Constable. Even when this is the case, MPGS usually only patrol the immediate vicinity of the barracks. They do not normally patrol married quarters or town centres either armed or unarmed. MPGS are not police and do not have any special powers of arrest.

On the matter of the Complement Review, I should explain that MDP Agency Consultancy Services (ACS) are in the process of conducting this. DSTL Porton Down is awaiting a review by the MODs Directorate of Defence Security (MOD Sy) to reassess the site categorisation of DSTL Porton Down. No final decisions have yet been made and you will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to prejudge the review findings. This notwithstanding, I am sure this review will be comprehensive and the report on the complement review findings will be issued when these matters are
resolved.