Mindef UFO files and FOI requests

Summary

The declassified document from the UK Ministry of Defence reveals how UFO sightings were handled under the Freedom of Information Act. In 2005, a citizen requested information on sightings from 1900 to 2004, but the MOD explained that paper records were not digitized and processing them would exceed the allowed cost limit. It was noted that files before 1967 were routinely destroyed, and only from 1977 onward were they preserved at The National Archives. The MOD also clarified that it does not investigate UFOs in detail, only checking if they pose a threat to airspace security. Some notable cases, like Rendlesham Forest, were made accessible.

The file also includes responses to other requests, such as sightings in Oldham and Oxfordshire, where only a few relevant reports were found. In the case of Scotland, 47 sightings were identified between 2002 and 2005, with brief descriptions provided. These records show that while the MOD does not focus on solving mysteries, it maintains data that can be useful for later research. Transparency, though limited, allows partial access to historical UFO information in the UK.