'Major security breach' declared at British Army base after break-in - police launch urgent probe

Police are investigating a theft follow a "security incident" at a British Army base.

Fuel was stolen from a tanker at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Larkhill, Wiltshire on October 4, Wiltshire Police said.

A fence was also damaged during the incident.

The Military of Defence (MOD) confirmed the incident had not impacted "operational output" at the base.

“We can confirm that Royal Military Police and Wiltshire Police are investigating a report of theft following a security incident at the Royal Artillery Barracks, Larkhill, on October 4," an MOD spokesman said.

“The incident has not impacted the operational output of the base.

“We take security extremely seriously and operate a multi-layered approach to protect our sites, including fencing, patrols and CCTV monitoring.”

Wiltshire Police said its enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.

A force spokesman said: "We received report that damage had been caused to a fence and fuel stolen from a tanker at Larkhill Barracks on Saturday afternoon (October 4).

"Enquiries are currently ongoing.”

Danny Kruger, MP for East Wiltshire, said he was "concerned" about security at military bases in Wiltshire.

"I have written to the Defence Secretary to request an update on measures to prevent future breaches like this one - or worse," he wrote to X.

It is not however the first security breach to have occurred at a military base in recent months.

In a separate incident in June, pro-Palestine protestors broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, the largest station in the Royal Air Force.

The group claimed to have "decommissioned two military planes".

Tan Dhesi, MP for Slough and Chair of the Defence Select Committee, said the latest incident "doesn't exactly inspire confidence" in security measures at military bases.

"Since the break-in at the RAF Brize Norton airbase in June, the Government promised to step up its security at military bases, Mr Dhesi told LBC.

“That another break-in has just occurred doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the new measures taken.

"I would hope this issue is being treated with the seriousness it deserves and that lessons are being learnt."

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