Guidance

Ministry of Defence Police: Project Servator

The MDP uses Project Servator to disrupt criminal activity, while providing a reassuring presence for the Defence community and public.

Project Servator police vehicle at roadside alongside an MDP officer, standing on the pavement, looking towards officers in high vis jackets around cars cordoned off with red traffic cones, with houses in the background and cars travelling along the road.

Project Servator vehicle checkpoint. Crown copyright.

About Project Servator

Project Servator aims to disrupt a range of criminal activity, including terrorism, while providing a reassuring presence for the public. Our officers are experienced and specially trained to spot the tell-tale signs that someone may be planning or preparing to commit a crime.

Together, we’ve got it covered

We believe that together, we’ve got it covered. We work with partners, including other police forces, security teams, businesses, the public, staff and visitors, to continue to protect Defence sites, people and assets and everyone in the surrounding communities, making it difficult for criminals and terrorists to operate.

MDP Project Servator officer and Metropolitan Police officers, wearing cycle helmets, all wearing high vis jackets and talking to each other with men walking down a staircase in the background.

Project Servator officer working with the Metropolitan Police Service. Crown copyright.

What you can expect to see

Project Servator deployments can happen at any time, anywhere. Our officers will arrive unannounced at various locations in and around sites we protect, including:

  • Defence HQ, Whitehall
  • Atomic Weapons Establishment sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield
  • HM Naval Bases at Portsmouth, Clyde, and Devonport
  • Royal Naval Armaments Depot, Coulport
  • Menwith Hill

A surge capability is also available to deploy where required at locations and events across the UK.

Deployments can last for different lengths of time and involve varying numbers of officers and different resources. You’ll see highly visible uniformed officers who may also be working with plain clothes officers, armed police officers, police dogs, and marine police units, using different approaches and technology such as vehicle checkpoints, CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).

MDP dog handler, and police dog, searching a white parked car, with MDP Project Servator officer watching in the background standing next to a red traffic cone.

Police dog and handler assisting with vehicle search. Crown copyright.

You might also see us working with other police forces including British Transport Police, City of London Police, the Metropolitan Police Service, Police Scotland, Devon and Cornwall Police and local community policing teams.

Officers will talk to the public, local businesses, staff, visitors and security staff, to let them know what they’re doing and remind them to be vigilant, trust their instincts and report anything suspicious or that doesn’t seem right.

You will see posters on display boards and officers will hand out leaflets explaining more about Project Servator.

If you see our Project Servator officers in the workplace or in the surrounding area where you live or are visiting, there’s nothing to be concerned about. It is normal police activity designed to create a network of vigilance and disrupt those intent on committing crime, including terrorism.

Working with the community is a vital part of making Project Servator a success, so if you have any questions, please feel free to talk to our officers.

Project Servator officer, wearing a high vis jacket and face mask, talking to a person on a scooter wearing a red jacket, with a stone brick wall and fence line in the background and a Project Servator poster in the foreground.

Project Servator officer talking to member of the public. Crown copyright.

What we need you to do

You have an important role to play in helping to keep safe Defence and surrounding communities, by reporting suspicious activity or anything that doesn’t seem right.

You’ll never get in trouble for reporting a genuine concern and we’ll always take your report seriously.

If you see something suspicious or if something just doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts, and report it to a police officer or member of security immediately. We’ll do the rest.

To report suspicious activity to the MDP, call 0300 1232 101. In an emergency always call 999.

You’ll find more information on what to look out for and how to report it on the ACT Website .

Project Servator on social media

We engage with the online community, sharing information about Project Servator.

Follow #ProjectServator and the MDP on:

More information

Project Servator explainer - Project Servator explained: An animation that explains the policing tactic and the vital role the public can play in acting as extra eyes and ears, and reporting suspicious activity.

Published 27 March 2018
Last updated 23 November 2021 + show all updates
  1. Updated page content.

  2. Updated emergency phone number.

  3. Updated guidance about Project Servator and how you can help.

  4. Updated sections on 'About Project Servator' and 'What we do'

  5. Updated guidance about Project Servator and how you can help.

  6. Added the Talk through magazine to the 'in the news' section.

  7. Added two new updates to the 'In the news' section of the page.

  8. First published.