UFO, Official MOD Response to Information Requests

Summary

The UK Ministry of Defence has responded to multiple requests under the Freedom of Information Act regarding UFO sightings, abductions, and unidentified aerial phenomena. In these responses, it is stated that the MOD has no expertise or role in investigating UFOs or the existence of extraterrestrial life. While remaining open-minded, no evidence has been found to support such phenomena. Letters from the public reporting UFO sightings are not filed separately but are mixed with other correspondence, and due to volume, requests cannot be fulfilled without exceeding the permitted cost limit under the law.

Additionally, it is mentioned that MOD files on UFOs were routinely destroyed every five years until 1967, when they were generally preserved for The National Archives. Some records prior to 1967 and up to 1977 are available for public viewing. The MOD has also published information on notable events such as the Rendlesham Forest incident in 1980 and the final report of the Flying Saucer Working Party in 1951. Although some reports may be of interest, the MOD emphasizes that its priority is national security and not the identification of unconventional aerial objects.