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The Operational Support Unit (OSU) is the Ministry of Defence Police's centrally managed, multi-capability, national response unit. It may be deployed anywhere in the UK at short notice. The MDP has two Operational Support Units. The are the force's strategic, specialist policing reserve providing a flexible, mobile response.
| Operational Support Unit | |
|---|---|
| File:MDPbadge.jpg | |
| Active | 1991 – Present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch | Director of Operational Support |
| Type | Domestic Law Enforcement |
| Role | Counter Terrorism, Public Order, Law Enforcement, CBRN |
| Part of | Ministry of Defence Police |
| Nickname(s) | OSU |
Locations
The MDP has two Operational Support Units, sited strategically to cover the North and South of the UK. Although both based in England, the OSUs also work in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- OSU South - Based at Wethersfield in Essex (Co-located with Agency HQ)
- OSU North - Based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse
Role
The MDP Operational Support Units are a strategic, specialist policing reserve providing the MDP with a flexible, mobile response.[1] The OSUs have a number of specialisms:[2]
Public Order
All OSU officers are trained to level one standard for policing public order incidents. They can provide Police Support Units to deal with protester activity that may escalate and become violent. As part of this public order capability, the OSU can deploy method of entry teams to secure access to premises in order to arrest occupants, or search for and secure evidence.
General Policing Support
OSU officers can be deployed to provide support to Divisional colleagues at events such as Royal, or VIP visits, or Military open days. They also provide uniformed assistance to CID and Fraud Squad investigations. They can be deployed to carry out high visibility patrols of Service quarters and other vulnerable sites during times of tension and heightened terrorist threat.
Specialist Firearms Support
All OSU officers are Authorised Firearms Officers, they have the training and capability to support, or respond to, a wide range of incidents that can occur on the Defence estate.
Search
All OSU officers are search trained and accredited by the Police National Search Centre. OSU officers are able to conduct offensive and defensive searches within a range of environments, and are capable of being deployed alongside AES dogs in order to assist with searches of vehicles and buildings.
Rope Access and Protestor Removal Teams
OSU officers are trained in rope access, and confined spaces techniques, enabling an effective response to spontaneous incidents and demonstrations at Defence locations where protesters blockade entry or exit points or scale high-level buildings or structures.
CBRN Response (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear)
The OSU is able to respond to CBRN incidents. They have their own cadre of instructors. The OSU is capable of being deployed to conduct chemical reconnaissance, or surveys and profiling, and operates small decontamination units. Officers can adopt a firearms posture in CBRN conditions and have access to relevant chemical agent monitors, alarms and other equipment.