What is UXO?
Discover how we can de-risk your project

Learn more

Land UXO Services
Explore our UXO risk mitigation services

Learn more

Marine UXO Services
Offshore UXO Survey and Consultancy

Learn more

International Operations
Mine action and overseas EOD expertise

Learn more

What is UXO?
Discover how we can de-risk your project
Land UXO Services
Explore our UXO risk mitigation services
Marine UXO Services
Offshore UXO Survey and Consultancy
International Operations
Mine action and overseas EOD expertise

1st Line Defence^®
UXO Risk – Assessed, Mitigated & Managed.

1st Line Defence is the sectors leading Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) risk mitigation company, offering services across the UK and Internationally for land and marine projects. We provide bespoke solutions to the risk posed from explosive ordnance and munitions buried in the ground and underwater – serving Commercial, Governmental and Humanitarian organisations.

1st Line Defence provide everything from UXO Risk Assessments, UXO Surveys & Investigations – to UXO Clearance and UXO Disposal. Whether you are planning a project in advance or need an emergency response, we have the capacity and capabilities to safely mitigate UXO risk – on-schedule and in budget.

25lb WWII-era projectile which was discovered on a Scottish wind farm project by 1st Line Defence.

What is UXO?

Read about the different types of UXO, why they still pose a threat to construction sites and how we can mitigate risk on your project.

Contact Us

Have an enquiry about your project or need immediate UXO support, we're always happy to offer our help and professional advice.

1st Line Defence Team standing together in their office space

Meet the Team

Put a face to a name and meet the team at 1st Line Defence, we're a friendly bunch of professionals all striving for the same goal.

1st Line Defence operatives on-site conducting a UXO Survey

About Us

Our mission is to make the world a safer place and reduce the risks caused by UXO, discover our background, experience and meet the team.

1st Line Defence operative investigating a suspicious object found in the ground

Careers

We’re passionate about our staff and seeing them develop, check out this page regularly to see what job opportunities are available.

A crane and a construction site being secured behind safety barriers

Accreditations

Your health and safety is our top priority, read about the accreditations we have been awarded across a range of organisations and bodies.

1st Line Defence UXO operative carrying out a Search and Clear investigation on-site

UXO Services

We offer a wide range of professional services and technology to assess, survey, mitigate, support and manage the risk of UXO.

New housing / residential development under construction in Somerset.

What is CIRIA C681?

Construction industry guidance about Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) risk – a complete guide to the risk management process.

Various 1st Line Defence Factsheets displayed on a black background

Free Downloads

Discover our resources and free downloads to help you get a better understanding about UXO risk on your project.

1st Line Defence operatives inspecting a suspicious item of potential UXO on a construction site

FAQs

Browse some of the more frequently asked questions about UXO and risk mitigation, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for contact us.

Latest UXO discoveries reported in the Press

500kg unexploded bomb discovered on a construction site in Tilbury, Essex

8 November, 2024

Essex Live

Suspected unexploded bomb discovered in Droitwich, Worcester

6 November, 2024

Malvern Gazette

Two schools in Scotland evacuated after suspected unexploded device discovered

31 October, 2024

The Scottish Sun

Bomb disposal team investigate suspected ordnance discovered in Rochester, Kent

31 October, 2024

Kent Online

Suspected Unexploded bomb discovered in Cranleigh, Surrey

30 October, 2024

Surry Live

Controlled detonation carried out on an unexploded ‘roll’ mine found in Guernsey

26 October, 2024

BBC News

Two unexploded bombs discovered on a construction site in Bootle, Liverpool

22 October, 2024

Liverpool World

Unexploded WWII bomb found and detonated in Thelwall, Warrington

18 October, 2024

Warrington Guardian

Suspected unexploded device discovered in Wilmslow Road, Manchester

16 October, 2024

The Manchester Tab

Suspected WWII unexploded bomb found in Watchet, Somerset

15 October, 2024

West Somerset Free Press

Suspected unexploded device detonated near Cirencester in Gloucestershire

10 October, 2024

This is Wiltshire

Suspected unexploded bomb found near Cross Gates train station in Leeds

9 October, 2024

Leeds Live

EOD team examine suspected unexploded bomb discovered in Avonmouth, Bristol

9 October, 2024

BBC News

Suspected unexploded WWII bomb found in Thetford

9 October, 2024

Suffolk News

EOD team called to Metheringham Airfield after suspect unexploded device discovered

4 October, 2024

Lincs Online

Controlled explosion carried out on unexploded WWI bomb found in Banbury

27 September, 2024

Banbury Guardian

Bomb squad called to industrial estate after unexploded device found in Linwood

24 September, 2024

STV News

EOD team dispose of unexploded device found on Ynyslas beach in Wales

23 September, 2024

County Times

Suspected unexploded device found and disposed in Gwynedd, Wales

21 September, 2024

BBC News

Suspected unexploded bomb found on Hemsby beach in Norfolk

15 September, 2024

Great Yarmouth Mercury

Why choose 1st Line Defence

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Book your UXO Services from a trusted partner

Air raid damage map of the City of Bath from 1942

UXO Risk Assessments

Desktop-based risk assessment and historical studies of project site locations to determine whether further investigation is required.

1st Line Defence operatives completing Intrusive UXO Surveys on a project at Orwell in Ipswich.

UXO Surveys

Survey your project site location to detect for items of UXO/UXB, suitable for both shallow and deep intrusive ground works – on Land or Marine projects.

1st Line Defence completing a Search and Clear investigation for UXO

UXO Support

Investigate and remove risk during groundworks with a UXO Specialist available 24/7 to support your project and your staff.

1st Line Defence UXO Disposal operation and the blast following detonation

UXO Disposal

Discover about the different types of UXO Disposal services we provide and how we mitigate risk on your project.

Pile of unexploded bombs in a crater waiting to be disposed of overseas

International UXO Services

We can rapidly deploy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Engineers for International UXO Clearance and Disposal projects.

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) found on the seabed

Marine UXO Services

Mitigate the risk of UXO on your marine or offshore project with our industry-leading detection and disposal services.

Explore our Case Studies

Example of explosive ordnance found by 1st Line Defence in Nottinghamshire.

Case Study – Nottinghamshire

>>> UXO Disposal, UXO Risk Assessment, UXO Survey & UXO Support

1st Line Defence operatives in discussion at Liverpool Docks.

Case Study – Liverpool Docks, Bootle

>>> UXO Risk Assessment, UXO Survey & UXO Support

Case Study – East coast of Scotland

>>> UXO Survey

Case Study – Avonmouth, Bristol

>>> UXO Risk Assessment, UXO Survey & UXO Support

Aerial photography from 1945 of the site in Buckinghamshire with overlays highlighting ground disturbance close-by.

Case Study – Ivinghoe Beacon, Buckinghamshire

>>> UXO Risk Assessment & UXO Support

Image showing Bomb tail pistols recovered during ground remediation works at Full Sutton in Yorkshire.

Case Study – Full Sutton, Yorkshire

>>> UXO Disposal, UXO Risk Assessment, UXO Survey & UXO Support

Case Study – Arlesey, Bedfordshire

>>> UXO Risk Assessment & UXO Support

Royal Logistics Corps (RLC) undertaking a controlled demolition of live UXO found by 1st Line Defence at Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.

Case Study – Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire

>>> UXO Support

British 500lb high explosive unexploded bomb found during excavation operations at a site in Thetford, Norfolk.

Case Study – Thetford, Norfolk

>>> UXO Survey & UXO Support

Case Study – Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

>>> UXO Survey & UXO Support

3-inch mortar round found during Target Investigation in Loch Rannoch, Scotland.

Case Study – Loch Rannoch, Scotland

>>> UXO Risk Assessment, UXO Survey & UXO Support

UXO discovered at the former military Gunnery School in Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea.

Case Study – Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea

>>> UXO Survey & UXO Support

Latest Company News & Updates

20mm Cannon rounds (with rulers for scale) which were discovered on a development site in Southampton by 1st Line Defence.

WWII-era explosive ordnance discovered at Southampton site

October 30, 2024

World Mental Health Day 2024

October 10, 2024

Railway tracks with rail workers in high visibility clothing inspecting the site.

1st Line Defence pass audit with the Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS)

September 18, 2024

40mm Bofors round (with rulers for scale) which was discovered on a development site in Portsmouth by 1st Line Defence.

Two WWII-era 40mm Bofors rounds unearthed at former Portsmouth Airport site

September 3, 2024

Suspected 500kg WWII unexploded bomb found at the Rivenwoods housing development at Newtownards.

WWII Unexploded Bomb detonated at construction site in Newtownards, County Down

August 19, 2024

Close-up image of MK-4 British Incendiary Bomb noses discovered during UXO Target Investigation in Kent

1st Line Defence recover Incendiary Bombs and Grenades close to WWII airfield

June 18, 2024

EOD team who defused a 500kg Unexploded WWII bomb in Cologne, Germany.

Unexploded 500kg WWII bomb defused in Germany

April 5, 2024

Member of staff working for Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end of life charity.

1st Line Defence support Marie Curie as our Charity Partner

March 27, 2024

Looking for a UXO Specialist?

If you need advice about UXO contact us for more information, our experienced professionals are here to help.

Call: +44 (0) 1992 245020 or Email: info@1stlinedefence.co.uk

Achilles BuildingConfidence Audited.

Member of the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists

The Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS) Audited

CHAS Accredited Contractor

Constructionline Gold Member

Member of the CPD Certification Service

Member of the Institute of Explosives Engineers

British Assessment Bureau ISO 9001 Certified

British Assessment Bureau ISO 14001 Certified

British Assessment Bureau ISO 45001 Certified

SafeContractor Approved

Assessed by the SSIP member scheme

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