The DSCU is an independent, professional, and global Service Police force, with jurisdiction to investigate serious crime alleged to have been committed by persons subject to Service law, in the UK and overseas.
Defence Serious Crime Unit (DSCU): Who we are and what we do
The DSCU is part of the Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC) within the Ministry of Defence.
Following independent reviews, the DSCU was formed to replace the Special Investigation Branches (SIB).
Working closely with other parts of the Service Justice System, including the Victim Witness Care Unit, Service Prosecuting Authority and Military Court Service, the DSCU consists of investigators and specialist teams from across the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force. This includes regulars and reservists, supported by civil servants and contracted colleagues.
The DSCU has jurisdiction to investigate the most serious and complex crimes alleged to have been committed by persons subject to service law, in the UK and abroad.
DSCU HQ is based at Bulford, with multiple sub-units based around the UK and abroad.
The DSCU has three specialist teams:
Special Response - with officers trained to handle serious sexual offences and incidents involving children, ensuring victims are safeguarded, supported, and referred to support organisations.
Operations - a high state of readiness team prepared to deploy globally, with specially trained officers, in response to reports of serious crime.
Major Investigations - trained to deal with Critical Incident Management and larger major crime investigations.
If you or someone else are in immediate danger in the UK, or you need support right away, call 999.
If you are in danger and you can’t speak or answer questions, you should:
Pressing 55 only works on mobiles and doesn’t allow the police to track your location. If you don’t press 55, your call will be ended.
If you are in danger but can’t speak or answer questions, you should call 999.
Where the operator can only hear background noise, they’ll transfer your call to the police.
If you replace the handset, the landline may remain connected for 45 seconds, in case you pick it up again.
Calling 999 from a landline automatically gives the police information about your location.
If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use the textphone service 18000, or text 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergency SMS service.
To report a crime, whether in the UK or abroad, or to speak to the Service Police:
If you are in the UK, you can contact Crimestoppers by:
If you are serving abroad, you must use the online information form to contact Crimestoppers. This will ensure your anonymity.
Call the Fraud Defence confidential hotline on 0800 161 3665 (UK) or +44 1480 44 638 (overseas).
To make a complaint about the DSCU, contact the Professional Standards Department at [email protected]
Please visit the Ministry of Defence homepage, where guidance can be found under ‘make an FOI request’.
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The Armed Forces code of practice for victims of crime (JSP 839)
Manual of service law (MSL)
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Service Prosecuting Authority
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