Ministry of Defence UFO Policy and Correspondence File D/Sec(AS)12/1

This document is a compilation of internal Ministry of Defence (MOD) files, correspondence, and press clippings concerning the department's policy on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) and Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). The file spans from the late 1980s to 1995, documenting the MOD's efforts to manage public interest, media inquiries, and parliamentary questions regarding UFOs. The central theme throughout the correspondence is the MOD's consistent stance that it has no formal role in UFO research and that its interest is limited strictly to determining whether any reported aerial activity poses a threat to the security of the United Kingdom.

Internal minutes reveal the MOD's cautious approach to public disclosure, particularly regarding the role of DI55 (Defence Intelligence 55) and the potential for public embarrassment if the department's internal processes were revealed. There is significant discussion regarding the '30-year rule' for the release of government records and the challenges of balancing transparency with the protection of witness privacy and internal distribution lists. The file includes numerous exchanges with members of the public, researchers, and television production companies (such as LWT and Central Television) seeking information or interviews. The MOD consistently declines to participate in speculative programming, preferring to provide standard lines that emphasize the lack of evidence for extraterrestrial life and the department's focus on national security.

Specific incidents and topics discussed include the 1980 Rendlesham Forest incident, the 1990 Belgian UFO wave, and the 'Operation Aeneid' inquiry. The file also contains documentation regarding the 'Open Government Initiative' and the MOD's monitoring of public requests for information. Throughout the documents, officials like Nick Pope are seen navigating the tension between maintaining a professional, non-committal public line and addressing the persistent, often conspiratorial, demands of the 'UFO lobby'. The file concludes with various administrative notes on the disposal and retention of records, reinforcing the MOD's commitment to its established policy of non-investigation.