No ‘recorded loss or theft’ of cannon or artillery rounds

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has confirmed that no 30mm cannon rounds or 155mm artillery shells have been reported lost or stolen from its facilities since 5 July 2024.

The response came following parliamentary questions from James Cartlidge MP, Shadow Defence Secretary, who sought clarification on the security of military munitions.

In a written statement, Luke Pollard, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Defence, assured that the MOD takes the security of Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives (OME) very seriously and has robust procedures in place to deter, detect, and prevent any loss or theft.

“A search has been undertaken against the Defence Incident Management Database (DIMDb), which is the single repository for all security incident data for Defence. No incidents have been raised for the loss or theft of either 30mm cannon rounds or 155mm artillery shells within the timeframe requested,” Pollard confirmed.

The Defence Incident Management Database is the central system for recording all security incidents across the MOD, ensuring that all losses or thefts are fully and rigorously investigated.

The question comes amid wider discussions about ammunition stockpiles, security, and resupply efforts—particularly in the wake of UK military support to Ukraine and concerns about defence readiness.

While the MOD’s response indicates no recorded incidents, the scrutiny of ammunition security and procurement remains a key focus for opposition MPs pressing the government on military preparedness and supply chain resilience.