Operational Support Unit (Ministry of Defence Police)

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. They are the force's strategic, specialist policing reserve providing a flexible, mobile response.

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 Force HQ)
 * OSU North - Based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse

Role


The OSUs have a number of specialisms:

Public Order
All OSU officers are trained to level one standard for policing public order incidents.

Rope Access Team
Some OSU officers are trained in climbing, working at height and rope access techniques.

Police Search Officers
OSU officers are trained to carry out evidential and counter-terrorism searches.

CBRN Response (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear)
The OSU is able to respond to CBRN incidents.