ON DUTY SIGHTINGS 1901-1972
21/12/1901. 0045 hours. Location: Haworth, West Yorkshire. As two uniformed police officers, PS JOHN JOHNSON and PC CLARK were walking along a snow covered beat in Haworth when suddenly a green light illuminated the surrounding area. The officers looked up to the sky to see a luminous UFO shaped like a cigar pointed at both ends. The object emitted occasional flashes and sparks. They watched the object for 15 minutes as it slowly and silently moved across the night sky before disappearing into the distance. PS JOHNSON stated that the object was seen at an altitude of 100-150 feet before gradually gaining height. Two members of the public reported seeing similar objects in Keighley and Shipley respectively. UFO CLASSIFICATION – CE1 (CLOSE ENCOUNTER 1ST KIND). On duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source – Mr Midgley via Keighley News 02/12/94.
1909
23/03/1909. Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Two uniformed police officer including PC M KETTLE observed a cigar shaped object above the sky over Peterborough.I can find no airship listing for that era in Cambridgeshire so by definiion it remains a UFO. Two Officers. On duty sighting. Source: Peterborough Press.
1950
Monday. 02/11/50. Location – Gowerton, Wales. Following a report by a member of the public of two lights traveling across the sky, DETECTIVE SERGEANT AMBROSE DAVIES, of Gowerton Police station observed a single white ball of flame. It was much brighter than any star and after a few seconds was seen to break into two pieces. A shower of reddish sparks were seen to the rear of the objects. The officer ruled out planets and meteors stating that there were definitely two objects in the sky and that they were joined by some kind of tether. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source – UFO Magazine Press Archive.
1952
2115 Hours. Location - Leek, Staffordshire. A police officer on plain clothes observations and two passing civilians saw a UFO literally above their heads at the recreation ground, Burton Street, Leek, Staffordshire. The object was seen for approx 2-3 minutes at an alt of 500 feet. They described it as orange in colour prior to the object changing shape from sphere to cigar by which time it was blue. Eventually the object accelerated away at a fantastic speed in a northerly direction. Throughout duration of the sighting the UFO made no noise whatsoever. It was a clear cold night, no wind and the stars were visible. The sighting was reported by the officer but he was told by his Superintendent to ‘keep his mouth shut’. The sighting was released to the press. UFO CLASSIFICATION – CE1 (CLOSE ENCOUNTER 1ST KIND). On Duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source: Irene Bott archive.
22/11/52. 0600 hours. Chichester, Essex. In the early hours of Saturday 22nd November 1952 following several sightings by members of the public across East Anglia and the South West two Chichester uniformed police officers observed a UFO at 0600 hours at they went on duty. Just before the officers observed the object the entire area was lit up like daylight. PC TONY COX said, “We thought that sparks from an electric train must be the cause until we turned around and saw this queer thing speed across the sky to the north-east. On duty sighting. 2 officers. Source – Sunday Dispatch newspaper 23/11/52. Classification – Nocturnal Light (NL).
1954
February. 0600 hours. Location – Bognor Regis, Sussex. PC WILLIAM KEATS was cycling to work for the 6 am shift when he saw the road ahead suddenly illuminated from behind him. He stopped and turned to see an intense white light travelling from west to east. Upon reaching the police station two other officers from Chichester, PC HOWARD NORTH and PC TONY COX confirmed they too had seen what they described as a ‘tadpole’ shaped UFO. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On duty sighting. 3 officers. Source: Daily Mail 11/02/1954.
1955
Evening. Summer. Location - Sussex coast. An on duty uniformed police officer PC JOHN L CLARKE observed a bright light flying at high altitude along the Sussex coast on a late evening summer’s sky. He estimated the size of the UFO as ¼ size of the moon. It was first seen low from the east taking ten minutes to arrive overhead and then a further ten minutes to disappear from view. No sound present at any time. He described the UFO as a distinct circular shape at the front with a broken and distorted rear. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source - John L Clarke.
1957
September 1957. 2345 hours. Sunday. Location. Bristol Channel. Three uniformed officers observed a red disc shaped UFO rise from the Bristol Channel. One half of the disc was like a large harvest moon and moved out of sight towards the west. The officers reported the sighting to Glamorgan Police HQ. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL/USO (NOCTURNAL LIGHT/UNDERWATER SURFACE OBJECT). On Duty sighting. 3 Officers. Source: Daily Telegraph 04/09/57.
November 1957. 0235 hours. Location – Cowbridge, Glamorgan. Two uniformed officers observed a green blue UFO as it passed over South Wales. Five minutes later two other uniformed officers saw the same object as it passed over the Rhonnda Valley. The object was described as being delta shaped and travelling at high speed. Several civilian witnesses also observed the UFO. UFO CLASSICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 4 Officers. Source – Press Archive.
1962
Location – Dartmoor, Devon. 8. A senior police officer in a newspaper article confirmed that two officers on mobile patrol had had a UFO encounter over Dartmoor. He said that the officers had chased the object along country roads where it was seen to stop and hover before disappearing. The officers submitted a long report about the incident. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source: Sunday Mirror 19/08/1979.
1963
July. Location - Charlton near Shaftesbury, Wiltshire. An on duty uniformed police officer, PC ANTHONY PENNY reported seeing an orange coloured UFO flash across the sky in the above location and disappear over a potato field where days later a large spherical crater measuring eight feet was found. The crater appeared from nowhere in the field and within its centre was a hole three feet deep, 5-12 inches in diameter. Radiating from the centre of the hole were four slot marks, four feet long and one foot wide. No cause could be found for the appearance of the crater or the marks found within it. The crater was investigated by a Bomb Disposal Unit but no satisfactory explanation was ever found for it. The mystery was even mentioned in parliament on 29th July by Major Patrick Wall, Conservative MP for Haltemprice. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source - UFO Flying Saucers over Britain by Robert Chapman. Mayflower Books. Pages 104-107.
1964
20/02/64. 0955 hours. Location: Shoeburyness, Southend, Essex. PC 392 CROOK was on patrol when he observed three fast moving objects in the southern sky. They were spaced in a line. The colour of the objects was off-white and their shape appeared to be oval. They were seen above cloud height and travelling at great speed with no discernible sound. The officer forwarded a report to the Air Ministry who stated he may have witnessed three Lightning fighter aircraft flying in formation. UFO CLASSIFICATION – DD (DAYLIGHT DISC). On duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source – Irene Bott archive.
1965
1500 hours. 30/11/65. Location – Warminster, Wiltshire. An on duty uniformed police officer, PC ERIC PINNOCK was on foot patrol of the Bishopstrow area of the town when he observed a large bright silver ball shaped UFO hurtle through the sky before it disappeared over Sutton Common. He said, “It was a giant plate of light. It lit up the whole horizon with a glare”. It was flying low over the landscape and appeared to be spinning. During the mid sixties Warminster was a haven for UFO spotters and there were literally hundreds of sightings made in that area. UFO CLASSIFICATION – DD (DAYLIGHT DISC). On Duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source - The Warminster Mystery by Arthur Shuttlewood. Tandem Publishing 1976. Page 139.
1954 hours. Thursday 16/12/65. Location - Chineham, Basingstoke, Hampshire. An on duty uniformed police officer, PC J HARWOOD was speaking with a member of the public outside the man’s home when they both observed a tadpole shaped UFO with a large green dome on top and a flaming red tail that was two or three times the length of the dome pass by overhead. It was seen only briefly as it sped across the sky from south to north at an incredible speed. The object was estimated to have been four to six feet in length. PC HARWOOD said, “The colour attracted me - green. This may have been caused by low clouds. I have never seen anything like it before”. The member of the public, Basil Gibbons (aged 67), likened the object to a Gemini space capsule. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT) On Duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source - The Warminster Mystery by Arthur Shuttlewood. Tandem Publishing 1976. Pages 141-142.
1966
0410 hours. March. Location - Wilmslow, Cheshire. An on duty uniformed officer, PC COLIN PERKS was on foot patrol on Alderley Road in the above town when he saw a UFO moving across the sky at an altitude of only 30 feet and that it was only 100 yards from him. He described it as being 30 feet in diameter and as bulky as a double decker bus. He said, “There was an eerie, greenish-grey glow in the sky. Then I picked out an object about thirty feet long and built up in three sections with the top looking like a dustbin lid. It gave off a high pitched whine. I was paralysed. I just couldn’t believe it.” The duration of the sighting was five minutes before it disappeared. His police report was forwarded to the MOD who did visit him to investigate his story. When officers visited the scene a short time after the incident the area where was seen was covered in a fine glass like substance that dispatched after short period. UFO CLASSIFICATION – CE2 (CLOSE ENCOUNTER 2ND KIND). On Duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source - UFO Flying Saucers over Britain by Robert Chapman. Mayflower Books 1999. Page 43 and PRUFOS.
September. Location – Southampton, Hampshire. Following a report from a member of the public that a UFO was hovering motionless over the city a marked police vehicle was sent to investigate the claim. When they arrived at the man’s address on Coxford Road they were amazed to see the object where he had claimed it would be. They contacted Police HQ by radio and said, “He’s right. There is an object in the sky to the west and remaining still. It keeps flashing red, white and blue lights and dropping flares. There’s no sound of an engine and it does not appear to be an aircraft.” Inquiries with Eastleigh Airport proved negative as did those with Southampton University Air Squadron. Calls to the Southern Meteorological Centre also proved fruitless. Eventually the UFO disappeared at high speed in the direction of Eastleigh. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source - UFO Flying Saucers over Britain by Robert Chapman. Mayflower Books 1969. Page 43.
0300 hours. Between Potters Hill and Bristol Lulsgate Airport, Avon and Somerset. PC LESTER STENNER and a colleague were driving along a quiet road when suddenly they saw an oval shaped UFO approximately 100 feet off the ground above the road ahead. At the same time the object appeared the engine of the police vehicle died as did the headlights. Also the streetlamps lining the road went out. The object just appeared and remained motionless for about 10 seconds when it disappeared. As soon as the object had gone the headlights, street lighting and engine came on. The officers described the object as being around 100 yards wide by 50 feet and made no noise whatsoever. The officers did not report the incident fearing ridicule. UFO CLASSIFICATION – CE1 (CLOSE ENCOUNTER 1ST KIND/EM). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source: The PRUFOS Police Database.
1967
August 1967. Location – Worthing, Sussex. Four campers reported seeing two UFOs over Rye Bay near Worthing that were later confirmed by two uniformed police officers. The objects moved quickly across the sky heading in a north easterly direction. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source: Evening News 21/08/67.
July 1967. 2110 hours. Saturday. Location – Nottingham, Nottinghamshire. A member of the public, teacher Mr Doy, reported seeing a UFO over a local school and a PC HOLMES attended the school and confirmed the object in the sky. He then reported the sighting to his duty officer, Inspector R Street. PC HOLMES stated that the object was a bright light spinning on its own axis in a stationary position above the school. The police could not offer any explanation for the UFO. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source: Nottingham Evening Post 10/07/67.
October 1967. Location - Sussex and Oxfordshire. Following reports by several members of the public (including an RAF Wing Commander) police officers across the counties of Sussex and Oxfordshire observed a fiery cross UFO. One of them, a motor cycle officer, PC BRYAN CAWTHORNE, observed the UFO between Ringmer and Halland having initially thought the object to be a star. He pulled over to the side of the road to get a better look at it and described its motion as slowly moving forward and backwards. He definitely confirmed that the object was actually moving by lining it up with a telegraph pole. He reported the incident to his control and was informed that other officers had also reported seeing the object. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 3 Officers. Source: Evening News 25/10/67.
The following two sightings took place within two days of each other across the counties of Devon and Sussex at a time when sightings of fiery cross shaped UFOs were being widely reported in the media. October 1967 0445 hours. Wednesday. Location – Sussex. A uniformed police officer observed a fiery cross shaped UFO. October 1967 1600 hours. Tuesday. Location – Devon. A uniformed police officer, PC KEITH DROUDGE observed a UFO and said of his sighting, “There is no doubt in my mind. It was a UFO. It wasn’t a plane. We’ve seen enough planes not to be fooled like that.” UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source: Sunday Express 29/10/67.
0130 hours. 05/07/67. Location – Stoney Cross, New Forest, Wiltshire. Following a report by a member of the public of an orange ball shaped UFO above Stoney Cross, New Forest a uniformed officer, PC DAVID HOLLOWAY, was dispatched to the scene. He corroborated the sighting of the orange UFO that he said did a ‘loop the loop’ before heading away in the direction of Southampton.
UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source – FSR Vol 13 No 5.
27/08/67. Location - Between Spelsbury and Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. Two on duty uniformed officers observed two dark oval shaped UFOs on the road between the above locations. They estimated the size of the objects as fifty feet in diameter each. The craft disappeared in a northerly direction at a height of 600 feet. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source - A Covert Agenda by Nick Redfern. Pocket Books 1998. Page 97.
27/08/67. Location - Glossop, Derbyshire. Six on duty uniformed police officers observed a UFO over the town from a number of different locations. They described the object’s movements as ‘swinging’ from side to side. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting 6 Officers. Source - A Covert Agenda by Nick Redfern. Pocket Books 1998. Page 97.
10/08/67. 0043 hours. Location: Hindley, Wigan, Lancashire. During the early hours two uniformed police officers, PC LIONEL HAW and PC STEVE PARSONAGE, observed a round shaped object in the sky that appeared to be travelling too fast to be either a comet or plane. PC HAW made a pocket notebook entry regarding the sighting. The officers observed the object for two minutes and dismissed any notion that they had seen a trick of the light. Chief Superintendent Tom Andrews of Wigan police confirmed the officer’s report of the sighting. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source – Daily Mirror 16/08/67.
October. Location – Gosport, Hampshire. Two uniformed officers PC EDNA WIELK and PC TONY CONNELL observed a red and white coloured UFO whilst on mobile patrol in the Little Anglesey area of Gosport. The UFO was seen above the HMS DOLPHIN submarine base. They got out of their vehicle to watch the object which they observed for five minutes before it moved out of sight.
UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source – Steve Gerrard, Southampton UFO Group (SUFOG).
Evening. 21/10/67. Location – South Shields, South Tyneside. Following a report by a member of the public, a uniformed police officer visited the family and witnessed with them the sighting of three triangular shaped UFOs in the sky above Tyne Dock, South Shields. The objects appeared to fly in formation before and stopping and coming to a brief hover. They departed heading off in the direction of Newcastle. The objects were extremely bright to look at and were seen for a duration of 30 minutes.
UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source – FSR Vol 14 No 2.
0400 hours. 24/10/67. Location - A3072 between Okehampton and Holsworthy, Devon. Two on duty uniformed police officers, PC CLIFFORD WAYCOTT and PC ROGER WILLEY had spotted a pulsating flying cross whilst driving between the above locations. It was seen at low altitude moving above the treetops of the surrounding countryside. Intrigued they began to chase the UFO, however they were never able to significantly gain on it. At times the object slowed to 50 mph and at one point came to a stop in mid air. The pursuit involved speeds of up to 90 mph and covered a distance of 14 miles. Whenever they did gain a little ground on the object it would simply accelerate away from them. Eventually they reduced their speed fearing an accident themselves. The closest distance they reached to the UFO was 400 yards. At one point they stopped at a farm to wake up the owner so they could gain some corroboration that they were not mistaken in their sighting. At a later press conference PC WAYCOTT said, “The light wasn’t piercing but it was very bright. It was star-spangled - just like looking through wet glass and although we reached 90 mph it accelerated away from us.” Before the object disappeared from view they saw a second UFO that was also cross-shaped, very bright and made no noise. Both officers were impressed by the relevant speeds of the objects as they quickly departed, especially the first one. Inquiries at nearby RAF Chivenor proved negative. Within 48 hours numerous other witnesses began to report sightings of similar objects. A ‘fiery cross’ was witnessed above the skies of Glossop, Derbyshire by six police officers. UFO CLASSIFICATION – CE1 (CLOSE ENCOUNTER 1ST KIND). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source - UFO Flying Saucers over Britain by Robert Chapman. Mayflower Books 1969. Pages 13-15.
0500 hours. 25/10/67. Location – Okehampton, Devon. Two uniformed officers in a patrol car observed a fiery cross shaped UFO above the town. One of the officers was a police photographer but he did not have time to get a picture of the object as the duration of the sighting amounted to only a few seconds. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source – FSR Vol 14 No 2.
0205 hours. 26/10/67. Location – Okehampton, Devon. Only two days after his involvement in the famous high speed police UFO chase, PC ROGER WILLEY, observed a similar star shaped UFO in the skies above Okehampton. It was seen to drop down low as if to land in the area it was originally seen. The sighting was very brief lasting only a few seconds. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source – FSR Vol 14 No 2.
0530 hours. Late October. Location - Bacup, Lancashire. An on duty uniformed police officer, PC BRIAN EARNSHAW heard a crackling sound coming over the station’s short wave radio. Curious he went outside to see what might be causing the interference. When he did so he looked up to see a cigar shaped UFO hovering 250 feet above the station. He said, “It was approximately 50 feet in length. There were portholes on the side but there were no visible signs of propulsion. The ship appeared to be metallic and gave off a bright glow. There was a low whirring sound coming from it.” Two other uniformed officers, PC COLIN DONAHOE and MALCOLM READER also saw the same object from a different location in Lancashire, watching for several minutes before it rose vertically into the sky and disappeared. Later a statement was issued by Lancashire Police that read, “We have had UFO reports before, but nothing like this. There has been no reasonable explanation but it was something definitely seen.” UFO CLASSIFICATION – CE1/EM (CLOSE ENCOUNTER 1ST KIND/ELECTROMAGNETIC EFFECTS). On Duty sighting. 3 Officers. Source - UFO Flying Saucers over Britain by Robert Chapman. Mayflower Books 1969. Page 19.
0520 hours. Late October. Location - Lancing, West Sussex. Three on duty uniformed police officers including PC MICHAEL SANDS spotted a silver UFO above the skies above Lancing. PC SANDS said, “It looked like a silver point of light which moved rapidly across the sky.” UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 3 Officers. Source - UFO Flying Saucers over Britain by Robert Chapman. Mayflower Books 1969. Pages 19-20.
0445 hours. 25/10/67. Location - Lewes, Sussex. Following reports by at least five police officers the senior officer for Lewes, G .W. R. Terry called a press conference at the Lewes Police HQ to discuss their sightings. All the officers, each from different vantage points described the same object - a bright light travelling in a northerly direction in total silence. These sightings along with many others made by the public were part of a high number of similar reports in the Sussex area over a number of days.
UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 5 Officers. Source - A Covert Agenda by Nick Redfern. Pocket Books 1998. Page 97.
Before Midnight. October/November 1967. Location – Sharneyford near Todmorden, West Yorkshire. Two uniformed officers were parked up in a marked police vehicle when they observed a bright light between their location and Stoodly Pike (local landmark). The light was well below cloud level. Then the object rose vertically into the sky before moving horizontally across the landscape in a side to side motion. The object itself was described as cone shaped, similar to a Gemini space capsule. Later the officers reported the sighting to the duty night shift Inspector. The reporting officer eventually spoke with an official from the War Office who asked him to submit an official report. This was duly completed and submitted. The officer never received any further communication about the incident. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source – PRUFOS/CONFIDENTIAL.
1968
Thursday 38/03/68. Evening. Location – Torquay, Devon. Two uniformed police officers saw a UFO over Torquay. Both officers reported the sighting to senior officers. A police spokesman said, ‘There appears to be something in the story.’ UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source: The Sun 29/03/68.
1969
August 1969 0430 hours. Location - Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Three uniformed police officers, two with binoculars, observed a triangular shaped UFO with concave sides over Mansfield General Hospital for one and half hours. It was first seen by PC PAGE at around 0430 hours. At 0606 hours the object was seen to change colour and disappear. A police report was sent to RAF Finningley. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 3 Officers. Source: Newspaper archive.
Dagenham, Surrey. 0630 hours 1969. Two uniformed police officers observed a UFO above the Surrey Downs minutes after it had been seen over Dagenham. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source: Researcher Roy Lake.
August 5th 1969. Location – Camarthen, Wales. Two uniformed police officers were among several civilian witnesses to a UFO seen hovering over Camarthen. Initially spotted by several members of the public a motor cycle officer turned up at the home of a farmer and confirmed the UFO through binoculars. It was described as being spherical in shape and silvery in colour. Later a second officer observed the object. Checks with the RAF proved negative. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source. Newspaper report posted 06/08/69.
Late evening. 10/11/69. Location – Withernsea, North Lincolnshire. A couple observed a triangular shaped UFO as it flew low over the sky near the above named location. The object moved closer to the vehicle they were in. Frightened they contacted the local police and were informed that a police officer had also witnessed the same thing. This information was confirmed by CHIEF INSPECTOR W BARROWCLOUGH of Withernsea police who also went on to say that checks had been made and that no aircraft had been in the area at the time of the reported sightings. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source – FSR Vol 16 No 1.
12/09/1969. Early hours. Warrington, Cheshire. PC SYDNEY EDWARDS reported seeing a bright pulsating UFO over Warrington describing it as like a ‘flickering’ star. The incident was also witnessed by Inspector ALAN MACHIN who described it as ‘big and white with no shape at all.’ The object was seen to travel slowly across the sky with a ‘jerky’ movement before suddenly vanishing from sight. One Officer. On duty sighting. Source: Perception Magazine (July 1969 issue). Editor – Graham Cowell.
Late Evening. November 1969. Location—Werrington, Stoke on Trent, Cheshire. A uniformed officer, PC TREVOR BLOWER was driving a marked police vehicle when he was advised by radio to look for an unusual object heading in his direction. Moments later he observed a ‘V’ formation of nine UFOs. There was no sound at all and they moved at an exceptionally high speed. The officer stated the object had mother of pearl effect with colours swirling all around each other. It was a clear night with little cloud cover. He reported his sighting over the radio and heard another officer saying he too had witnessed the lights. The next day he attended Leek police station with another five officers who had witnessed the formation. Each independently gave their descriptions to a civilian male. Senior police officers later advised all the men to keep quiet about the incident. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 6 Officers. Source—PRUFOS Police Database.
1970
0400 hours. Tuesday 16/06/70. Location – Hampstead, London. Two Metropolitan uniformed police officers, one of whom was PC H M BISHOP, observed a bright light whilst driving on Lyndhurst Road, Hampstead. The object was seen only briefly before disappearing from view. They continued to drive in the area until they saw three separate lights low in the sky having turned onto Netherhall Gardens, Hampstead. Two of the lights were ahead of a third one that seemed to be lagging behind the others. The officers stopped their vehicle to get a better look at the objects. After about 30 seconds and against a clear sky, each of the lights in turn disappeared from view as if they had gone behind an invisible screen. The objects were traveling at an altitude of 100-500 feet when first seen and then at 2500 feet by the time they vanished. The duration of the sighting was one to two minutes. It was a warm night with little cloud giving excellent visibility. UFO CLASSIFICATION – DD (DAYLIGHT DISC). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source – FSR Case Histories Supplement, October 1970.
1971
Location – Tynemouth, North Tyneside. A uniformed police constable based at Tynemouth Police station was driving a marked panda car along Tynemouth Road when he noticed a bright circular disc hovering in the sky above Knot’s Flats. The officer pulled over the vehicle into Oxford Street car park to get out and take a better look at the object. He observed it for about five minutes as it hovered over the flats before suddenly rising into the air vertically in a tremendous burst of acceleration and out of sight. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source: www.wearsideonline.com
2140 hours. 27/10/71. Location – Banbury, Oxfordshire. An on duty uniformed police officer, PC PERRY JACKSON, accompanied by a Cadet, WILLIAM BRYON spotted an orange coloured UFO moving across a moonlit star filled sky near to Bratch Hill, Banbury. It was the size of a golf ball to us. It was seen for three seconds before it moved downwards to the ground at a 45 degree angle. Numerous members of the public also reported sightings of the object. All the reports were collected by Banbury police and submitted to the Ministry of Defence. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 1 Officer. Source: FSR.
0615 hours. Late February, 1971. Location – Nuneaton, Midlands. Four uniformed officers observed a UFO over the Nuneaton area during the early hours of the day. PC BRIAN HEWITT of Foleshill Police station said, “We were attending a job in Lythalls Lane when we saw a strange thing in the sky. It was not a meteorite or anything like that.” He described seeing three white lights in the sky over Nuneaton which were moving at great speed heading in a westerly direction towards Birmingham. The lights were independent of each other and appeared to be traveling in formation. He checked with Air Traffic at Birmingham Airport and drew a blank. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 4 Officers. Source – FSR Vol 17 No 2 March/April 1971.
16/08/1971. Evening. Location – Aldridge, Staffordshire. Four uniformed Staffordshire police officers which included PC LESLIE LEEK and PS OTTWELL who observed a disc shaped UFO above the night sky over Aldridge. PC LEEK photographed the object. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 5 Officers. Source - UFO Flying Saucers over Britain by Robert Chapman. Mayflower Books 1969. Page 45.
August. Early hours. Wed. Location - Acton, Hounslow, London. Following a report by a member of the public to Hounslow Police station two officers inside the building viewed the UFO with binoculars. They saw a circular UFO with black spots and its brightness increasing. It was described as being four times brighter than Venus. A spokesman for Scotland Yard confirmed the sightings. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 3 Officers. Source: Acton Gazette 17/08/72.
Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire. Two on duty uniformed police officers, PC PERRY JACKSON and PC WILLIAM BRYNE saw a cigar shaped UFO that was yellow in colour. BRYNE said, “It travelled along slowly for a few seconds, then shot off into the night at a fantastic speed. We didn’t know what it was, nor had we ever seen anything like it but many reports have been made at the police station of strange lights and objects. The MoD confirmed that numerous reports had been made to them over several weeks but no conclusions had been reached as to their origin. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 2 Officers. Source – Irene Bott archive.
Late evening. Thursday 14/09/72. Location – Crumlin, Monmouthshire, Wales. Following reports by several members of the public of a UFO above the village of Crumlin, several uniformed officers were sent to the scene. There they observed the object which was described by PS CLIVE WILLIAMS as an orange circle in the sky that changed its shape to become a cone shaped UFO. The duration of the sighting was 60 minutes. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 3 Officers. Source – FSR Vol 18 No 6.
March 1972. Late Evening. Location – Liverpool, Merseyside. Three on duty uniformed officers (one sergeant and two constables) were on patrol, in a van in Liverpool city centre late one evening, when they observed a brightly lit UFO over the Pier Head that is alongside of the River Mersey. UFO CLASSIFICATION – NL (NOCTURNAL LIGHT). On Duty sighting. 3 Officers. Source: The PRUFOS Police Database.
15/09/72. 2100 hours. Hainault, London. At 2100 hours on Thursday 15th September 1972 a uniformed police officer saw three glowing cloud like objects in the sky about Hainault in London. This sighing took place the day before an almost identical sighting took place in the same area at roughly the same time by two teenage boys. The sightings were reported to the Air Ministry. On duty sighting. 1 officer. Source – FSR Volume 18 Issue 6. Classification – Nocturnal Light (NL).