HC Deb 02 March 1999 vol 326 c655W
Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency officers over civilians not employed by his Department. [73088]

Mr. Spellar

In a variety of circumstances, constabulary powers may be conferred on MOD police officers in relation to civilians not employed by the MOD.

Under the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987, MOD police officers have the powers and privileges of constables:

  1. (a)on defence land and property;
  2. (b) on land and property used by ordnance companies and dockyard contractors for naval, military or air force purposes;
  3. (c)on land in the vicinity of defence land and land used by ordnance companies and dockyard contractors provided a police constable of the local force has asked for assistance in the execution of his duties on that land;
  4. (d)on land in respect of which the Secretary of State has agreed to provide the services of the Ministry of Defence Police under an agreement notice published in the London, Edinburgh or Belfast Gazette; and
  5. (e)in any place—
    1. (i)in relation to Crown property;
    2. (ii)in relation to persons subject to the control of the Defence Council or employed under or for the purposes of the MOD or the Defence Council; and
    3. (iii)in relation to matters connected with anything done under a contract entered into by the Secretary of State for Defence for the purposes of the MOD or the Defence Council.