Our Force

Who We Are 

The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) is a civilian police force that protects the UK's Defence community, capabilities and assets.  

Our Force consists of armed officers, specialist policing roles and professional civilian staff who work seamlessly with the Ministry of Defence, US Visiting Forces, and other policing and security partners.

With stations across the United Kingdom, our presence extends from nuclear facilities to military sites and government buildings. 

Unlike territorial police forces, our jurisdiction and expertise are focused on protecting the critical infrastructure that underpins national security.

Our officers and civil servants bring diverse experience and skills to the unique challenges of Defence policing. 

What We Do 

Specialist Defence Security 

We provide a bespoke and flexible policing service tailored to the needs of the UK's Defence estate. Our expertise includes: 

• Protecting Defence assets 

• Preventing and investigating Defence-related crime 

• Conducting specialist maritime security operations 

• Supporting national security operations 

Armed Policing Capability 

At the core of our service is our armed policing capability: 

• All operational MDP officers are trained as Authorised Firearms Officers Counter Terrorism.  

• We deliver armed security across Defence sites 

• Our officers maintain high standards of firearms proficiency 

• We integrate counter-terrorism principles into our daily operations 

Partnership Working 

We strengthen the UK's security through collaboration: 

• Working alongside the Armed Forces to enhance security outcomes 

• Supporting US Visiting Forces at key bases across the UK 

• Collaborating with other police forces and security agencies 

• Contributing to national security and counter-terrorism efforts