§ Mr. Robert B. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to provide a dedicated headquarters for the Ministry of Defence police.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe Ministry of Defence police headquarters and training school, currently located with other Ministry of Defence branches in Empress State building, London and at Medmenham in Buckinghamshire respectively, will move to the site of the former RAF station at Wethersfield in Essex. Planning to this effect is now in progress, and it is expected that these moves will take place during 1992. It is also intended that the operational support unit will move from RAF Wittering to Wethersfield.
As a result of these moves, the Ministry of Defence police will have their own dedicated headquarters, satisfying the recommendation made by Her Majesty's inspector of constabulary in 1989. At the same time, the Ministry of Defence police will be provided with improved and up-to-date instructional facilities on a larger and more versatile site which will offer a greater capacity for both recruit and in-force continuation and specialist training.