Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Ministry of Defence File D/DAS/10/2/8/13: FOI Requests for Information
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AI-Generated Summary
This file contains MoD correspondence regarding FOI requests about UFOs and crop circles, confirming the department's policy of only investigating sightings with potential defence significance. It details the administrative challenges of managing paper-based records and the MoD's consistent denial of involvement in crop circle research.
This document is a compilation of correspondence and administrative records from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) regarding Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted between 2007 and 2010. The file, referenced as D/DAS/10/2/8/13, documents the MoD's internal processes for handling public inquiries about Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) and crop circles. The correspondence reveals a consistent MoD policy: the department does not investigate UFOs unless there is evidence of a potential threat to the integrity of UK airspace. The MoD explicitly states that it has no expertise or role in assessing the existence of extraterrestrial life and that it does not maintain specific files on crop circles, as they are not considered a matter of defence significance. The documents highlight the administrative burden placed on the MoD by FOI requests, particularly those requiring manual searches of paper-based records dating back to 1940. Several exchanges involve members of the public questioning the existence of specific files, such as those allegedly opened by former UFO Desk officer Nick Pope. The MoD consistently denies the existence of such files, often citing the lack of evidence for military involvement in crop circle phenomena. The file also includes internal memoranda regarding the management of public inquiries, the use of answerphone facilities for reporting sightings, and the coordination of responses between different MoD branches. The records reflect the department's transition toward releasing more information proactively via the National Archives and the MoD's own website to mitigate the workload associated with individual FOI requests. The document also touches upon the MoD's stance on 'defence significance,' clarifying that this term is used to assess whether UK airspace has been breached or if intelligence on foreign military capabilities has been revealed. The file concludes with administrative notes regarding the permanent retention of these records.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) examines any reports of 'unidentified flying objects' it receives solely to establish whether what was seen might have some defence significance; namely, whether there is any evidence that the United Kingdom's airspace might have been compromised by hostile or unauthorised air activity.
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Official Assessment
The Ministry of Defence maintains that it has no evidence of extraterrestrial life or that crop circles are of military concern.
The MoD does not investigate UFOs unless there is evidence of a threat to UK airspace. Records are filed on paper and are not held electronically, making comprehensive searches costly and subject to FOI cost limits.
Key Persons
- Nick PopeFormer employee of the MoD UFO Desk
- Lord Hill-NortonMember of the House of Lords