Commentary on Sections Part 1: Defence Procurement Section 5: Jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence Police
25.This section provides authority for the MOD Police (MDP) to continue to exercise its police powers on premises used by the contractor for the purpose of providing defence procurement services to the Secretary of State under the section 1 arrangements. This also ensures that MDP powers extend to any new site utilised by the contractor for those purposes and that MDP officers are able to investigate effectively allegations of fraud and other criminal offences relating to the provision of defence procurement services. Since any contracts between the contractor and third party contractors will be publicly funded, it also extends the MDP’s jurisdiction so MDP officers are able to exercise police powers to investigate any potential crime, fraud or thefts in relation to contracts between these parties.