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

EOD team investigate suspected unexploded shells discovered at Charlesworth in Derbyshire

4 July, 2025

BBC News

Suspected unexploded bomb found on Waverley construction site in Yorkshire

2 July, 2025

The Star

Suspected unexploded ordnance discovered on a building site near Renfrew Bridge in Glasgow

23 June, 2025

Daily Record

Suspected unexploded grenade discovered at Treeton in Rotherham

17 June, 2025

Rotherham Advertiser

Second unexploded navy shell found at Appledore disposed via controlled explosion in Devon

13 June, 2025

North Devon Gazette

Residents evacuated after suspected unexploded bomb found at Appledore in Devon

11 June, 2025

BBC News

Suspected unexploded bomb discovered near train tracks at Gunnislake in Plymouth

10 June, 2025

Plymouth Herald

Suspected UXO discovery shuts walking route in the Isle of Man

7 June, 2025

Isle of Man Today

Suspected WWII-era explosive found by metal detectorist at Marske Beach in North Yorkshire

7 June, 2025

Yahoo News

Suspected WWII bomb found at Chelson Meadow Recycling Centre in Plymouth

6 June, 2025

Devon Live

Suspected unexploded device discovered at Blackwood in Wales

2 June, 2025

The Argus

Fife beach closed following the discovery of an unexploded mortar shell

1 June, 2025

The Courier

Suspected unexploded ordnance discovered on Teignmouth beach in Devon

23 May, 2025

Exeter Today

Bomb disposal team investigate suspected unexploded device discovered at The Oaks industrial estate in Manston, Kent

16 May, 2025

The Isle of Thanet News

EOD team investigate suspected unexploded grenade found on Paradise Street in Oxford

15 May, 2025

Oxford Mail

Suspected unexploded bomb discovered on Littlehampton seafront in West Sussex

15 May, 2025

BBC News

Unexploded anti-aircraft shell found and detonated in Shoeburyness, Essex

14 May, 2025

BBC News

Suspected unexploded device discovered on a residential street in Northumberland

13 May, 2025

Chronicle Live

EOD team investigate suspected unexploded WWII bomb discovered in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

12 May, 2025

Welwyn Hatfield Times

Suspected unexploded WWII bombs discovered at Leigh Creek in Essex

9 May, 2025

Yahoo News

Why choose 1st Line Defence

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Book a UXO Risk Mitigation Service

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.

UXO Training

If a UXO risk has been identified on your project, we recommend that UXO Awareness Training is undertaken to make sure personnel are aware about the risks.

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

Aerial photography of the site location and boundary – circa 1947.

Case Study – East Sussex

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

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

Two of the defused unexploded WWII bombs being prepared for transportation in Cologne.

Unexploded WWII-era bombs defused in Cologne, Germany

June 5, 2025

1,000lb unexploded British bomb that was discovered by construction workers in Paris.

Unexploded WWII-era 1,000lb British Bomb causes road and rail disruption in Paris

March 14, 2025

‘Live’ 2-inch mortar discovered by 1st Line Defence operatives on the Isle of Wight.

WWII mortar unearthed during support works in the Isle of Wight

March 7, 2025

Aerial photography of the site location and boundary – circa 1947.

Multiple 1kg German Incendiary Bombs discovered in East Sussex

February 17, 2025

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

Looking for a UXO Company or UXO Specialist?

If you need advice about UXO risk contact us for more information, our experienced team are experts in their field.

+44 (0) 1992 245020 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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