Shogun spearheads protection of UK’s CNI with ‘Operation Vintage’

The task of protecting key elements of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) has been handed to the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) for the next three years – and their key 4x4 operational vehicle is the Mitsubishi Shogun.

The project, known as Operation Vintage, is the most significant non-MOD tasking in the history of MDP. It involves providing high visibility armed police patrols outside the plants, which form a critical part of the national infrastructure, and which could pose a tempting target for any would-be terrorists.

The role involves enhanced security at a number of gas processing installations in the UK and is restricted to armed security, not general policing, which will continue to be provided by the appropriate local Forces.

Superintendent Mark Foulger, of HQ Divisional Operations, said, "This is a concentrated role with specialist skills… the officers involved will be provided with all the best kit that we can muster, with new firearms, vehicles and other equipment.”

Toby Marshall, Mitsubishi’s Head of Fleet and Used Car Operations stated that, “The Shogun has established itself as a top 4x4 vehicle of choice within the specialist marketplace, so we are hugely proud to be supporting the MDP in the effort to protect such key national resources from the ever-growing terrorist threat.”