Minister sees MOD Police counter-terrorism exercise
18 Feb 09
Defence Minister Kevan Jones has visited the MOD Police (MDP) training centre at Wethersfield in Essex, where he saw the Specialist Operational Support Unit (OSU) undertake a counter-terrorism exercise.
MOD police officers of the Operational Support Unit demonstrate their ability to handle fire bombs
[Picture: Paul Kemp]
The unit demonstrated some of its expert skills by compressing a number of different extreme situations into a restricted time frame, using the theme of a terrorist threat from a suicide bomber.
Mr Jones said:
"What I've seen here today reassures me that we have a considerable contribution to make within the MOD to the country's counter-terrorist capability."
The OSU has two teams, one based in the north at York and one based in the south at Force HQ in Wethersfield, each with 40 members who can be deployed anywhere in the UK at short notice whenever there is a requirement for their expertise.
Its officers are highly trained in public order duties, search capabilities, specialised firearms roles, rope access, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) hazard response. They are unique within the police CBRN world in that they have their own decontamination unit.
Mr Jones watched the OSU officers demonstrate their ability to handle fire bombs and even an attempted chemical attack:
MOD police officers show off some of the specialist kit neccessary to deal with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats at their Wethersfield training centre during a visit by Defence Minister Kevan Jones (4th from right)
[Picture: Paul Kemp]
"The protection and security of our Defence assets, many of which are expensive and dangerous items, needs a highly professional capability and the MOD Police are a key part of that protection," he said.
Chief Inspector Chris Yates who heads the OSU said:
"People who have been radicalised could infiltrate demonstrations, intent on causing public disorder, and could use the disorder as a cover for terrorist action. We train to be ready to deal with that. Some of our skills are highly specialised in the police world."
Other OSU specialisms include video evidence gathering and effective unarmed entry techniques. The rope access teams have an unusual policing skill, exclusive to the MDP. Their officers are trained to deal with protests or other policing issues at high levels above the ground, for example when protestors climb structures and refuse to come down.
OSU officers are trained to high standards on several different firearms, and have within their ranks qualified Firearms Tactical Advisors and Bronze and Silver Commanders. They can also provide up to three Level One / trained Police Support Units for deployment on public order duties, with Level One indicating the highest standard in the police world.
Members of a MOD Police dog unit demonstrate their skills during the counter-terrorism exercise
[Picture: Paul Kemp]
The unit works closely with other police forces and takes part in national police planning and exercising.
Part of the MOD Police and Guarding Agency, the MDP is a statutory civil police force deployed across MOD sites in support of the Defence mission. Best known for its role in providing armed security for the UK's nuclear weapons, both at Atomic Weapons establishments and at HM Naval Bases, the force regularly trains in counter-terrorist techniques since a prime role is the protection of defence bases from armed attack.
The MDP have full police powers and a wide range of resources, including the country's largest marine and dog policing units. In police counter- terrorism terms, the MDP's aim is to act as a target-hardening deterrent, effectively making terrorist attack a less viable option.