Ministry of Defence UFO Policy and Correspondence File (1998-2000)

This document collection comprises a series of internal Ministry of Defence (MoD) minutes, correspondence, and briefing notes spanning from 1998 to 2000, primarily managed by the Air Staff Secretariat (Sec(AS)2). The central theme of the file is the MoD's policy regarding 'UFO' sightings and the management of public and media interest in the subject. The documents consistently articulate that the MoD's interest in UFO reports is strictly limited to determining whether any reported sighting constitutes a breach of the UK Air Defence Region by hostile or unauthorized foreign military activity. The MoD explicitly states that it has no expertise or role in investigating the existence of extraterrestrial life, and that it does not maintain a 'UFO' information bureau.

A significant portion of the correspondence addresses the routine release of older MoD 'UFO' files to the Public Record Office (PRO) under the 30-year rule. The MoD faced pressure from individuals, including Lord Hill-Norton and various journalists, to release these files earlier than the 30-year requirement. The MoD consistently resisted these requests, citing the need to protect the personal confidentiality of members of the public who had submitted reports, and the significant administrative burden that would be required to sanitize these files. The documents also detail the MoD's interactions with media organizations, such as Granada Television and Discovery Communications, regarding requests for filming and interviews. In these instances, the MoD generally declined to participate, citing its limited interest in the subject and the potential for media misrepresentation.

Furthermore, the file includes documentation regarding the formation of a Task Force on Potentially Hazardous Near Earth Objects (NEOs). The MoD sought to clarify that its remit regarding 'UFOs' was distinct from the scientific work of the NEO Task Force, which was focused on the risk posed by asteroids and comets. The documents also touch upon the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and how it would impact the MoD's existing procedures for handling public inquiries. Throughout the collection, the MoD maintains a defensive posture, emphasizing that it does not investigate sightings to identify the nature of the objects, as most are attributed to aircraft or natural phenomena, and that it does not have the resources to conduct such investigations.