The Ministry of Defence recorded hundreds of incidents between 2022-23 of people entering unauthorised areas in Salisbury.

At over 94,000 acres – the size of the Isle of Wight – Salisbury Plain is the UK’s largest training area.

Across Salisbury Plain alone, over 700 incidents of the public straying into an area of the training estate when and where they shouldn’t be were reported between September 2022 and August 2023. This includes a significant number of ‘near misses’ where there was an increased risk that a member of the public or the military could have been injured or worse.

A public safety message has been made by the MOD comes as part of "Respect the Range", a campaign designed to raise the public’s awareness and understanding of the risks to personal safety when accessing military land.

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Risks to public safety can include live firing, unexploded ordnance (UXO), pyrotechnics and fast-moving military vehicles. 

(Image: MOD)

MOD land is primarily used for military training, and although visitors are welcome, the key take-away from the campaign is that you should only access MOD land when and where it is safe to do so.

Regional commander for the South West of England Col Andy Hough, said: “With the summer holidays here, it’s a key time to remind the public of the potential risks when accessing Salisbury Plain, as well as the actions they can take to keep themselves safe. 

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“Salisbury Plain is one of the most stunning parts of Wiltshire. Members of the public are asked to observe and comply with the safety signs and remain in the designated areas and on marked, cleared paths. 

“When military training is taking place, there could be a risk to the public from live fire. Red boundary flags are flown when live firing is taking place, and we ask that people don’t access the Range unless the permissive paths are open. We ask that people don’t pick up anything that they may see or find, but that instead they report it.

“If we all work together to use these spaces with respect and consideration, the public will stay safe, and our Armed Forces will be protected during their important training exercises.”   

Local people and holidaymakers who are planning to be out and about over the coming weeks, are urged to make sure they follow the MOD’s guidance to keep themselves and their loved ones safe: gov.uk/guidance/safe-access