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{{Short description|Military police of the British Army}}
The '''Royal Military Police''' (RMP) is the [[military police]] branch of the [[British Army]]. Its members are generally known as '''Redcaps''' because they wear red-topped [[combination cap|peaked caps]] or red [[beret]]s. Their [[stable belt]] was red until 1992, when they were federated into the [[Adjutant General's Corps]] when they started wearing the blue and red belt of the AGC. As of July 2006, several RMP companies have started wearing the original red belt again. Like other military police around the world, they used to wear white [[webbing]] and [[gaiter]]s when on duty, although today these are rarely worn.
{{Distinguish|Ministry of Defence Police}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Royal Military Police
| image = Royal Military Police (RMP) cap badge during the reign of Charles III.png
| caption = [[Heraldic badge|Badge]] of the RMP
| dates = 1926–1992 <small>(independent corps)</small><br />1992–present <small>(as branch of AGC)</small>
| country = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| branch = {{army|United Kingdom}}
| type = [[Service police]]
| size = 2,500
| command_structure = [[Adjutant General's Corps]]
| garrison = [[Southwick House|Southwick Park]], Hampshire
| garrison_label = RHQ RMP
| nickname = Redcaps<br />Monkeys (derogatory)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rmp-sib.co.uk/redmonkey.htm|title=Origin of the phrase 'monkey' as a derogatory term for the Royal Military Police |access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref>
| motto = ''Exemplo Ducemus''<br />By example shall we lead
| colors = Red
| colors_label = Beret
| march = The Watchtower (''Hoch Heidecksburg'')
| flying_hours =
| website = {{Official URL}}
| commander1 = [[King Charles III]]
| commander1_label = [[Colonel-in-Chief]]
| commander2 = [[Lieutenant general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant General]] [[Ben Bathurst|Sir Benjamin Bathurst]]
| commander2_label = [[Colonel Commandant]]
| commander3 = [[Brigadier]] Sarah Pringle-Smith
| commander3_label = [[Provost marshal|Provost Marshal]]
| commander4 = Professor [[David Whetham]]
| commander4_label = RMP Reserve Hon Col
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label = [[Cap badge]]
| identification_symbol_2 = [[File:Royal Military Police Heraldic Badge.jpg|75px]]
| identification_symbol_3 = [[File:RMP TRF.svg|75px]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = Heraldic Background
| identification_symbol_3_label = [[Tactical Recognition Flash]]
}}
{{British Army Arms}}
The '''Royal Military Police''' ('''RMP''') is the corps of the [[British Army]] responsible for the [[Service Police|policing]] of army service personnel, and for providing a [[military police]] presence both in the UK and while service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises. Members of the RMP are often known as 'Redcaps' because of the [[Scarlet (color)|scarlet]] covers on their [[combination cap|peaked caps]] and scarlet coloured [[beret]]s.
 
The RMP's origins can be traced back to the 13th century but it was not until 1877 that a regular corps of military police was formed with the creation of the Military Mounted Police, which was followed by the Military Foot Police in 1885. Although technically two independent corps, they effectively functioned as a single organisation. In 1926, they were fully amalgamated to form the '''Corps of Military Police''' (CMP). In recognition of their service in the Second World War, they became the Corps of Royal Military Police on 28 November 1946. In 1992, the RMP amalgamated into the [[Adjutant General's Corps]] (AGC), where they form part of the AGC's Provost Branch.
==Role==
 
Non-commissioned members of the RMP receive their basic training as soldiers at the [[Army Training Centre Pirbright|Army Training Centre]] in [[Pirbright]]. They then receive further training at the [[Defence School of Policing and Guarding]] (DSPG), previously known as the Defence College of Policing and Guarding (DCPG).
The RMP's principal duties are:
 
The regimental march of the RMP is "The Watchtower" or "''Hoch Heidecksburg''", originally a German Army marching tune from 1912 by Rudolf Herzer. The RMP motto is ''Exemplo ducemus'', Latin for "By example shall we lead".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rhqrmp.org/centenary_military_police_association.html |title=The Centenary of a Military Police Association 1913 - 2013 |publisher=RHQ RMP |access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref>
* The provision of [[garrison]] [[police]] facilities;
* Law enforcement and crime prevention; and liaison with [[Home Office]] and other police forces worldwide when Army interests are involved or suspected;
* Tactical military police support to the Army in all phases of military operations.
* The provision of close protection worldwide to those deemed by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] to warrant such.
 
==History==
[[Image:RMPFLSGL1.GIF|right|frame|RMP Flag]]
{{Main|History of the Royal Military Police}}
 
The Provost Marshal is a post which goes back to the 13th century and was originally an under-officer of the [[Earl Marshal]].<ref name=history>{{cite web |url=http://rhqrmp.org/rmp_history.html |title=Royal Military Police: History |access-date=9 May 2014}}</ref> In 1685 the role of Provost Marshal General became a permanent post.<ref name=history/> The [[Cavalry Staff Corps]] of 1813–14 and 1815–18 is regarded as Britain's first standing [[military police]] force and a forerunner of the Royal Military Police.<ref name=nam>{{cite web |title=Cavalry Staff Corps 1813 |url=https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1950-11-33-39 |website=National Army Museum, London |access-date=19 January 2019}}</ref><ref name=carman>{{cite journal |last1=Carman |first1=W. Y. |title=The Cavalry Staff Corps |journal=Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research |date=Spring 1969 |volume=47 |issue=189 |pages=33–34 |jstor=44222918}}</ref> The Military Mounted Police was formed in 1877 and the Military Foot Police was formed in 1885.<ref name=history/>
RMP personnel are not sworn in as [[constable]]s and only have police powers whilst dealing with military personnel, dependents or overseas contractors sponsored by the Army. The RMP do not have to be on Ministry of Defence land to exercise their authority.
 
During the [[World War I|First World War]] the Military Police grew from 508 all ranks to over 25,000 all ranks by the end of the War.<ref name=history/> During the [[Battle of Neuve Chapelle]] in March 1915 the Military Police served the Army as a whole, rather than individual units.<ref name=history/>
==History==
 
On 27 February 1926 the Corps of Military Police was formed by merging the Military Mounted Police and the Military Foot Police.<ref name=history/>
The post of [[Provost Marshal]] has existed since [[William of Cassingham]] was appointed by [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] on [[28 May]] [[1241]] (the original title was Sergeant of the Peace). The Provost Marshal has always had men detached to assist him (an arrangement formalised by the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]] in the [[Peninsular War]]), but only since 1877 has there actually existed a regular corps of military police. In that year, the '''Military Mounted Police''' (MMP) was formed, followed by the '''Military Foot Police''' (MFP) in 1885. Although technically two independent corps, these two effectively functioned as a single organisation. In 1926 they were fully amalgamated to form the '''Corps of Military Police''' (CMP). In recognition of their service in the [[Second World War]], they became the '''Corps of Royal Military Police''' (RMP) on [[28 November]] [[1946]] under Army Order 167.
 
During the [[World War II|Second World War]] the Military Police grew from 4,121 all ranks to over 50,000 all ranks within six major branches of specialists:<ref name=history/>
On [[6 April]] [[1992]] they lost their status as an independent corps and, together with the [[Military Provost Staff Corps]], became the Provost Branch of the [[Adjutant General's Corps]]. They were, however, permitted to retain the name Royal Military Police, together with their [[cap badge]] and other distinctive insignia (such as the red cap).
* Special Investigation Branch – formed in 1940, with 19 detectives from the [[Metropolitan Police]] transferred to the Army for deployment in France. From this small beginning the Branch expanded into numerous Sections which were deployed both in the UK and overseas, providing the Corps with its own Criminal Investigation Department to conduct more detailed and protracted investigations into organised crime and serious offences such as murder.
* Provost Wing – responsible for general policing. Provost Companies were included in the order of battle of Home Commands, Armoured, Infantry and Airborne Divisions, as well as at Army and Corps level and with independent Brigades. From 1942, "Ports Provost" Companies were raised, consisting of a mix of Provost and Vulnerable Points Sections, which were deployed on security and policing duties within ports and docks.
* Vulnerable Points Wing – formed in 1941 to provide security of static locations and establishments. They were known as "blue caps" from the Oxford blue cloth covers worn on their service dress caps. Originally intended to act as static Companies and detachments, VP Coys were later deployed in North West Europe, guarding prisoner of war camps and other static installations. The VP Wing was quickly phased out at the end of the war, but re-appeared briefly in the Supplementary Reserve/Army Emergency Reserve between 1950 and 1961.
* Traffic Control Wing – formed in 1941, TC Coys were deployed throughout the United Kingdom, releasing Provost Companies from the tasks of traffic control. TC Coys were later deployed in the Middle East, Italy and North-West Europe. The Wing was phased out of the Corps by 1946.
* Field Security Wing – formed in 1937. Personnel wore Lincoln green cap covers, green brassards and brass shoulder titles on their tunics with the letters "FSP", to distinguish them from the rest of the Corps. They wore the standard CMP cap badge, but unofficially ground down the wording "MILITARY POLICE" from the lower scroll of the badge. In July 1940 the Wing was absorbed into the new [[Intelligence Corps (United Kingdom)|Intelligence Corps]].
 
In November 1946, [[George VI of the United Kingdom|King George VI]] granted the 'Royal' prefix to the Corps of Military Police in recognition of its outstanding record in two World Wars and the Corps became known as The Corps of Royal Military Police, though abbreviated to Royal Military Police (RMP).<ref name=history/> From 1969 the Corps made an important contribution during [[The Troubles]] in [[Northern Ireland]].<ref name=history/>
Their motto is ''Exemplo Ducemus'' (Latin) which translates as 'By example, we lead'.
[[File:British military police officer looks across Berlin Wall with field glasses, 1984.jpg|thumb|left|Red Beret-wearing, British, Royal Military Police member uses [[Binoculars|field glasses]] to look across the [[Berlin Wall]] from a viewing platform on the western side, 1984.]]
[[File:Afghan_Border_Police_class_at_Lashkar_Gah_Training_Center_120313-A-YI377-036.jpg|thumb|right|An RMP member during [[Operation Herrick]] in Afghanistan, in 2012.]]
A horse detachment of the Royal Military Police remained in service after World War II, being recreated in 1950. Based at Aldershot, its purpose was mainly to undertake patrol and other policing duties in areas not suitable for vehicles, but also to act as a ceremonial unit preserving mounted RMP traditions dating back to the nineteenth century. The Mounted Troop was gradually reduced to about 20 personnel and finally disbanded in 1995.<ref>{{cite book |first=Mike |last=Chappell |pages=[https://archive.org/details/ospreyredcapsbri00chap/page/n29 56]& 59 |title=Redcaps. Britain's Military Police |year=1997 |url=https://archive.org/details/ospreyredcapsbri00chap |url-access=limited |isbn=1-85532-670-1}}</ref>
 
On 6 April 1992 the RMP amalgamated into the [[Adjutant General's Corps]] (AGC), under whose overall command they form part of the AGC's Provost Branch alongside the also pre-existent [[Military Provost Staff Corps]] and the later-formed [[Military Provost Guard Service]]. Although they lost status as an independent corps, they were permitted to retain the Royal Military Police title and cap badge.<ref name="Adjutant General's Corps: History">{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/agc/31153.aspx |title=The British Army - History |access-date=7 May 2017}}</ref> Their solid red regimental stable belt was re-introduced in 2024, having previously been replaced by the AGC stable belt.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Dec 2023 |title=1 Military Police Brigade |url=https://www.facebook.com/1MilitaryPoliceBrigade/posts/re-introduction-of-the-royal-military-police-scarlet-stable-belt-the-scarlet-sta/672053791771675/ |website=Facebook}}</ref>
One of the nicknames for the RMP is the "Monkey Hangers". This comes from the time of the [[Napoleonic Wars]], when a merchant ship docked at [[Hartlepool]]; on board the ship was a small [[monkey]] dressed in a sailor's costume. The local people who saw the monkey were convinced that it was a French spy and demanded its demise. The Provost hanged the monkey to avoid a riot taking place. The nickname stuck both for the RMP (who even have a monkey tie pin) and the citizens of Hartlepool.
 
==Role==
As well as being responsible for the Military Provost Staff Corps, the Provost Marshal (A) is also responsible for the [[Military Provost Guard Service]], which provides a guard force of armed troops for bases and units of all three services.
As well as policing service personnel whilst at home in the UK, the Royal Military Police are required to provide a capable military police presence in support of military operations overseas.
 
===In the United Kingdom and British overseas garrisons===
==Organisation==
Broadly speaking, within the [[United Kingdom]] and its overseas [[garrison]]s, the Royal Military Police are responsible for policing service personnel. In garrison towns, the RMP often assist the local [[territorial police force]] in town centres at venues where service personnel are likely to frequent. Some Royal Military Police NCOs are allocated roles working on Service Family Accommodation (SFA) estates, such as Community Liaison Officers and Crime Reduction Officers. Part of this role involves visiting schools in the SFA catchment area, where the school's children come from service families. In the UK, this work is often done in conjunction with the [[Ministry of Defence Police]].
 
Some of the specific roles the RMP fulfill include:<ref name="Role of the RMP">{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/agc/provost/31537.aspx |title=Role of the RMP – British Army Website |publisher=Army.mod.uk |access-date=2012-05-05}}</ref>
The RMP is still headed by the Provost Marshal, now a [[Brigadier]]. Every [[Formation (military)|formation]] has a Deputy Provost Marshal (DPM) or Assistant Provost Marshal (APM).
* Law enforcement and crime prevention, within the service community
* Assistance to civilian police forces in garrison towns
 
===When deployed on operations===
The RMP is divided into units called Provost [[Company (military unit)|Companies]], subdivided into [[platoon]]s, and sometimes grouped into [[regiment]]s. Platoons are commanded by [[Staff Sergeant]]s and are divided into [[section (military unit)|sections]] under [[Sergeant]]s. All [[non-commissioned officer|non-commissioned]] RMP personnel are promoted to [[lance corporal|Lance-Corporal]] as soon as they complete training in order to give them authority over other soldiers. [[Commissioned officer]]s were once attached from other branches of the army, but can now be commissioned directly into the RMP. Many RMP officers are commissioned from the ranks.
[[Image:Para Provost DZ Badge.jpg|thumb|RMP Para Provost [[DZ Flash]] (16 Air Assault Brigade)]]
The Royal Military Police are required to provide tactical military police support to the British Army in military operations. When deployed, some of the roles the RMP fulfill include:<ref name="Role of the RMP"/>
* [[War crime]] investigations
* Handling and collating criminal evidence
* Reconnaissance patrols
* Detainee handling
* Search operations
* General policing duties within operational bases
* Foreign police and military training
* Provide [[Royal Military Police Close Protection Unit|close protection]] operatives for senior military and diplomatic personnel on operations<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/agc/provost/13306.aspx |title=Royal Military Police – British Army Website |publisher=Army.mod.uk |access-date=2012-05-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Ministry of Defence |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/TrainingAndAdventure/RoyalMilitaryPoliceTrainForCloseProtection.htm |title=Royal Military Police train for close protection |publisher=Mod.uk |date=2012-08-07 |access-date=2013-10-05}}</ref>
 
==Jurisdiction==
The RMP is divided into three branches. Most personnel belong to the General Police Duties (GPD) Branch, which performs uniformed policing and security duties. The [[Special Investigation Branch]] (SIB) is the detective branch. The Close Protection (CP) Unit provides bodyguards for senior military officers and other key personnel (nominated by the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] (FCO) as required) in danger zones. The RMP also trains the [[SAS]] in defensive driving techniques. There is also a Drugs Investigation Team (DIT), although random drug testing has reduced its workload.
 
===In the United Kingdom===
The RMP sometimes shares its police stations with other police forces. At [[Catterick Garrison]], the RMP station is shared with [[North Yorkshire Police]] (who man it during daylight hours). Another police station in [[Wiltshire]] is shared with the [[Ministry of Defence Police]] (MDP) and [[Wiltshire Constabulary]]. The RMP works closely with the MDP on aspects of Garrison Policing and Security
[[File:Royal Military Police officers at Edinburgh.jpg|thumb|Royal Military Police soldiers at [[Edinburgh]]]]
 
Royal Military Police personnel are not [[constable#United Kingdom|constables]] under UK law and do not have any specific police powers over the general public, only whilst dealing with [[service personnel]]. The RMP are subject to inspection by [[HM Inspectorate of Constabulary]], in the same way as UK civilian police forces.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/18/section/4/enacted |publisher=Legislation.gov.uk |access-date=2013-10-02 |title=Armed Forces Act 2011}}</ref>
In the UK the RMP are authorised to use blue lights and sirens by most chief officers of civil police forces. In [[British Forces Germany]], under the Status Of Forces Act, the RMP has juristiction and primacy over British Forces personnel, their families, MOD contractors, and [[NAAFI]] staff. The German civil police only normally become involved where the interests of a German national are involved. The RMP in Germany cover the [[British 1st Armoured Division|1st Armoured Division]], which includes [[British 4th Armoured Brigade|4th Armoured Brigade]] ([[Osnabrück]]), [[British 7th Armoured Brigade|7th Armoured Brigade]] ([[Hohne]]), and [[British 20th Armoured Brigade|20th Armoured Brigade]] ([[Paderborn]]), as well as the separate [[United Kingdom Support Command (Germany)]] based at [[Rheindahlen]]. The RMP also maintains a detachment (part of 101 Provost Company) in [[Belgium]] for working with convoys to and from the [[North Sea]] ports through Belgium and the [[Netherlands]] to the German border. This detachment works closely with both the ''[[Koninklijke Marechaussee]]'' (KMar; Royal Dutch Military Police) and the Belgian 6th Military Police.
 
RMP personnel sometimes have powers, conferred by [[Byelaws in the United Kingdom#Military lands byelaws|military lands byelaws]], to give lawful directions to civilians who are on Ministry of Defence land affected by such byelaws. This may include the power to regulate vehicular and pedestrian traffic, close or restrict access, or to direct civilians to leave military land to which the byelaws apply. The particulars of these powers are highly changeable and are determined by each individual [[Statutory instrument (UK)|statutory instrument]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/55-56/43 |title=Military Lands Act 1892 |publisher=Legislation.gov.uk |access-date=2013-10-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defence-estates.mod.uk/byelaws/Internet/Intro.php |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20091204111006/http://www.defence-estates.mod.uk/byelaws/Internet/Intro.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-12-04 |title=Military Lands Byelaws |publisher=Defence Estates |access-date=2013-10-05}}</ref>
The headquarters and training centre of the Royal Military Police is situated at Southwick Park, [[Southwick, Hampshire|Southwick]], near [[Portsmouth]], at the tri-service [[Defence Police College]]. It moved there on [[27 September]] [[2005]] from the RMP's longstanding HQ, and former depot, at Roussillon Barracks in [[Chichester]], [[West Sussex]].
 
A member of the Royal Military Police can arrest any individual in the UK whom they have reasonable grounds to believe to be a serving member of [[HM Armed Forces]] and to have committed a relevant civil or military law offence.<ref>[[Armed Forces Act 2006]].</ref> RMP personnel do not have to be on Ministry of Defence land to exercise their authority over service personnel.<ref name="Role of the RMP"/> The RMP also have police powers over personnel of the other two branches of the armed forces: the [[Royal Navy]] and the [[Royal Air Force]]. The [[Royal Navy Police]] and [[Royal Air Force Police|RAF Police]] also have reciprocal police powers over [[British Army]] personnel.<ref name="legislation.gov.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/52/section/67 |title=Armed Forces Act 2006 |publisher=Legislation.gov.uk |access-date=2012-05-05}}</ref>
During the [[Second World War]], the CMP had four branches: Special Investigation Branch (SIB), Red Caps (who were responsible for general policing), Blue Caps (who were responsible for traffic control and directing convoys), and Field Security Wing (Green Caps; which was separated from the CMP in 1940 to form the [[Intelligence Corps]]).
 
===Postings overseas===
[[File:RMP Polizist Menschenmenge.jpg|thumb|100px|RMP soldier on duty in [[Germany]]]]
{{Main|Civilian subject to service discipline}}
Where service personnel are deployed overseas, the Royal Military Police are often called upon to provide a complete policing service. In these situations, members of the Royal Military Police can often exercise police powers in respect of [[Civilian subject to service discipline|civilians subject to service discipline]]. This includes, not exclusively, service dependents and overseas contractors sponsored by the British Army.<ref name="legislation.gov.uk"/>
 
In [[British Forces Germany|Germany]], under the [[Status of forces agreement]], the RMP has jurisdiction and primacy over British service personnel, their families, [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|MoD]] contractors, and [[NAAFI]] staff.<ref name="nato.int">{{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_17265.htm |title=NATO – Official text: Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces, 19-Jun.-1951 |publisher=Nato.int |date=1951-06-19 |access-date=2012-05-05}}</ref> The [[Law enforcement in Germany|German civil police]] only normally become involved where the interests of a German national are concerned.<ref name="nato.int"/>
 
==Equipment==
Royal Military Police personnel undertaking general police duties are equipped with [[Baton_(law_enforcement)#Expandable|extendable]] [[Baton (law enforcement)|batons]], [[Hiatt speedcuffs]] and [[Airwave (communications network)|Airwave]] personal radios.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/signals/25745.aspx |title=Airwave |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=9 May 2014}}</ref>
 
The RMP also uses the [[HOLMES 2|Home Office Large Major Enquiry System]], known as HOLMES.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm081117/text/81117w0035.htm |title=Military Police |publisher=Hansard |date=17 November 2008 |access-date=9 May 2014}}</ref>
 
<gallery mode="packed">
Image:RMP OPEL VECTRA 2.jpg|Royal Military Police [[Opel Vectra]] patrol car in Germany
File:Royal Military Police Land Rover Defender.jpg|Royal Military Police [[Land Rover Defender]]
File:Royal Military Police - Ford Mondeo's - 4371904179.jpg|Royal Military Police [[Ford Mondeo]]s, 2010
</gallery>
 
==Training==
{{Main|Defence School of Policing and Guarding}}
RMP [[commissioned officer]]s attend the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]], as do all other British Army officers. [[Other ranks (UK)|Other ranks]] recruits undertake their phase 1, Common Military Syllabus (Recruits) training at the [[Army Training Regiment]] in [[Winchester]]. They then move onto Phase 2 which is undertaken at the Defence School of Policing and Guarding.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://skillsforjustice.org.uk/product/qualifications-apprenticeship-support |date=26 March 2013 |title=A Feather in the Redcap for First Military Police Apprentices |access-date=9 May 2014}}</ref>
 
The training syllabus includes:
* Service Police Codes Of Practice (SPCOP), military legislation which shadows [[Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984]] (PACE)
* [[Armed Forces Act 2006]] (also Status of Forces in NATO)
* [[Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005]] (SOCPA 2005)
* [[Geneva Conventions]]
* HAIG Rules
* Personal Safety Training (PST)
 
==Organisation==
The regimental headquarters of the RMP moved to MOD Southwick Park - [[Southwick House]] - near [[Portsmouth]], in February 2007. It is co-located with the triservice [[Defence School of Policing and Guarding]].<ref name=autogenerated1>RMP Journal.</ref> The RMP training centre moved there on 27 September 2005, from the RMP's long-standing RHQ (with effect from February, 1964) at [[Roussillon Barracks]] in [[Chichester]], West Sussex. The [[Service Police Crime Bureau]] is also located at MOD Southwick Park, and is staffed by personnel from the Royal Military Police, Royal Air Force Police, and Royal Navy Police. The RMP Museum has also moved to MOD Southwick Park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/adjutant-generals-corps/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630021934/https://www.army.mod.uk/agc/provost/31840.aspx|url-status=dead|title=Adjutant General's Corps|archivedate=June 30, 2013|website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref>
 
==Colonels Commandant of the RMP==
Colonels Commandant have included:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rhqrmp.org/rmp_pdfs/colonel_commandants.pdf |title=Colonels Commandant of the Corps of Royal Military Police |access-date=9 May 2014}}</ref>
* General [[Miles Dempsey|Sir Miles Dempsey]] (1947–1957)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kingscollections.org/catalogues/lhcma/collection/d/de50-001 |title=DEMPSEY, Gen Sir Miles Christopher (1896–1969) |publisher=King's Collections |access-date=9 May 2014}}</ref>
* Field Marshal [[James Cassels (British Army officer)|Sir James Cassels]] (1957–1968)
* Field Marshal [[Geoffrey Baker (British Army officer)|Sir Geoffrey Baker]] (1968–1971)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=44539 |supp=y|page=2660 |date=5 March 1968}}</ref>
* General [[Cecil Blacker|Sir Cecil Blacker]] (1971–1976)
* General [[Peter Leng|Sir Peter Leng]] (1976–1983)
* General [[James Glover (British Army officer)|Sir James Glover]] (1983–1987)
* Field Marshal [[Peter Inge, Baron Inge|Lord Inge]] (1987–1992)
* Lieutenant General [[Christopher Wallace (British Army officer)|Sir Christopher Wallace]] (1992–1999)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=52885 |supp=y |page=6178 |date=6 April 1992}}</ref>
* General [[Richard Dannatt, Baron Dannatt|Sir Richard Dannatt]] (1999–2005)
* Lieutenant-General [[Bill Rollo|Sir William Rollo]] (2005–2008)
* Lieutenant-General [[Gerald Berragan]] (2008–2011)
* General [[Nick Carter (British Army officer)|Sir Nick Carter]] (2011–2015)
 
==Current RMP units==
Current RMP units include:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/agc/provost/31838.aspx |title=RMP Units |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=9 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/20130703-SUMMARY_OF_ARMY_2020_RESERVE_STRUCTURE_AND_BASING_v2.pdf|title=Army Reserve 2020 Structure and Basing Changes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/agc/provost/31838.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113125218/http://www.army.mod.uk/agc/provost/31838.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=2018-01-13|title=RMP Units - British Army Website |date=2018-01-13 |access-date=2019-11-11}}</ref>
* [[British Army Training and Support Unit Belize|Belize Police Unit]]
* [[British Military Garrison Brunei|Brunei Police Unit]]
* [[British Army Training Unit Suffield]] (BATUS) Police Unit, Canada
* [[Sovereign Base Areas|Cyprus Joint Police Unit (CJPU)]]
** 1 Platoon CJPU
** 2 Platoon CJPU
* British Contingent, Force Military Police Unit, (FMPU), [[United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus]] (UNFICYP) – Operational Deployment – not part of British Forces Cyprus.
* Joint Service Police Security Unit (JSPSU), Falkland Islands (Controlled by PM(RAF))
* Joint Provost and Security Unit (JP&SU), [[Gibraltar]] (Controlled by PM(N))
* Joint Service Police Unit (JSPU), [[Diego Garcia]], [[British Indian Ocean Territory]]
* SHAPE /AFNORTH RMP – [[Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe]], Belgium and [[Joint Force Command Brunssum|Allied Forces North]] in the Netherlands.
 
=== 1st Military Police Brigade ===
===Great Britain===
[[File:Redcaps (Royal Military Police) of 156 Provost Company exercise 2019.jpg|thumb|right|156 Provost Company, 3 Regiment RMP on exercise in 2019]]
*3 Regiment RMP
**150 Provost Company ([[Catterick Garrison]])
**158 Provost Company ([[Bulford]])
**174 Provost Company ([[Donnington, Telford|Donnington]]) ([[12 Mechanised Brigade]])
*4 Regiment RMP
**160 Provost Company ([[Aldershot Garrison]])
**116 Provost Company (Volunteers) ([[West Bromwich]])
**253 Provost Company (Volunteers) ([[Tulse Hill]], London)
*5 Regiment RMP
**170 Provost Company ([[Edinburgh]]) (Regiment Provost HQ) ([[102 Logistic Brigade]])
**101 Provost Company([[Dusseldorf]], [[Germany]]) (UKSC(G))
**114 Provost Company ([[Gutersloh]], Germany) (UKSC(G))
**156 Provost Company ([[Colchester]]) ([[16 Air Assault Brigade]])
**243 Provost Company (Volunteers) ([[Livingston, Scotland|Livingston]]) (UKSC(G))
**252 Provost Company (Volunteers) ([[Stockton-On-Tees]]) ((UKSC(G))
*Special Investigation Branch (UK)
**Northern Region
**Eastern Region
**Western Region
**83 Section SIB (Volunteers) ([[Worthy Down]])
 
1st Military Police Brigade (under Regional Command), [[Andover, Hampshire|Andover]]
===Germany===
* '''Specialist Operations Regiment''', [[Southwick Park]]
*1 Regiment RMP
** Service Police Crime Bureau
**110 Provost Company (Paderborn) (20 Armoured Brigade)
** Close Protection Unit, [[Longmoor Military Camp|Longmoor Camp]]
**111 Provost Company (Bergen Hohne) (7 Armoured Brigade)
* '''[[1st Regiment, Royal Military Police|1 Regiment RMP]]<ref name="gov.uk">{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/632554/2017-02130.pdf |title=Army 2020 Refine exercise |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref>'''
**115 Provost Company (Osnabrück)(4 Armoured Brigade)
** 110 Provost Company ([[Leuchars Station|Leuchars]])
*Special Investigation Branch (G)
** 150 Provost Company ([[Catterick Garrison]])
** 174 Provost Company ([[Donnington, Telford|Donnington]])
** 116 Provost Company (''Reserves'') ([[Cannock]] and [[Manchester]])
** 243 Provost Company (''Reserves'') ([[Livingston, West Lothian|Livingston]] and [[Stockton-on-Tees]])
* '''3 Regiment RMP<ref name="gov.uk" />'''
** 156 Provost Company (Air Assault) ([[Colchester]]) - supporting [[16 Air Assault Brigade]]
** 158 Provost Company ([[Bulford Camp|Bulford]])
** 160 Provost Company ([[Aldershot Garrison]])
** 253 (London) Provost Company (''Reserves'') ([[Tulse Hill]], London)
* '''Military Provost Staff''', Colchester Garrison<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 October 2023 |title=MPS {{!}} The British Army |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/adjutant-generals-corps/provost/military-provost-staff/}}</ref>
** Regimental Headquarters, Berechurch Hall Camp
** Military Corrective Training Centre, Colchester Garrison
** Headquarters Company
** SCF Company
** Detention Company
** No. 1 Company ''(Reserves'')
 
===Allied Rapid Reaction Corps===
===Northern Ireland===
* Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Military Police Battalion (ARRC MPBn)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forces.net/services/army/military-police-unit-very-particular-set-skills |title=The Military Police Unit With A Very Particular Set Of Skills |date=6 October 2017 |publisher=Forces News |accessdate=2 March 2021}}</ref>
*6 Regiment RMP
*HQ NI Region
 
=== Defence Serious Crime Unit ===
===Other units===
Tri-service serious crimes unit that replaced the Special Investigations Branches of the UK armed services. Headquarters based at [[Bulford Camp|Bulford Garrison]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Defence Serious Crime Unit (DSCU) |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/defence-serious-crime-unit-dscu |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>
*Belize Police Unit
*Brunei Police Unit
*British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS), Canada
*Cyprus Joint Police Unit (CJPU)
*Joint Service Police Security Unit (JSPSU), Falkland Islands
*Joint Provost and Security Unit (JP&SU), Gibraltar
 
==The RMP in popular culture==
The RMP also provides some manpower for the [[Royal Marines Police]] Troop at [[Plymouth]].
[[File:Royal Military Police, Seria (1).jpg|thumb|RMP vehicle in [[Seria]], [[Brunei]]]]
 
''[[Redcap (TV series)|Redcap]]'', an [[ABC Weekend TV|ABC]] television drama series which aired from 1964 to 1966, starred [[John Thaw]] as SIB investigator Sergeant (later Staff Sergeant) John Mann.<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q7305528|id=tt0058843|title=Redcap}}</ref>
The RMP are also currently deployed around the world, in [[Kosovo]], [[Bosnia]], [[Iraq]], and [[Afghanistan]].
 
''[[Red Cap (TV series)|Red Cap]]'', another television drama series, which aired in 2003 and 2004, starred [[Tamzin Outhwaite]] as Sergeant Jo McDonagh, also an SIB investigator.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/redcap/ |title=BBC Red Cap Show page |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |access-date=2013-10-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327354/ |title=Red Cap |date=7 January 2003 |access-date=7 May 2017 |via=IMDb}}</ref>
83 Section SIB (V) RMP is maintained by CVHQ at Worthy Down. CVHQ (Central Volunteer Headquarters) formerly maintained four specialist General Police Duty companies in addition to 83 Sec. These were 152, 251, 165 and 164 Provost Companies, which were disbanded in 2000 as part of the [[Strategic Defence Review]]. CVHQ is now responsible for providing specialist RMP ([[Territorial Army]]) components to the [[Allied Rapid Reaction Corps]] (ARRC) as well having responsible for training all RMP TA recruits.
 
''[[Soldier Soldier]]'', a television drama series about an infantry company which aired from 1991 to 1997, featured [[Holly Aird]] as Corporal (later Sergeant) Nancy Thorpe RMP.<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q7557319|id=tt0106138|title=Soldier Soldier}}</ref><ref>''[http://www.robsongreen.com/soldiersoldier.php Soldier Soldier]'' {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418050407/http://www.robsongreen.com/soldiersoldier.php |date=April 18, 2015}}</ref>
== Equipment ==
The RMP is equipped with standard British Army weapons, as well as extendable [[baton]]s, rigid [[handcuffs]] and pava spray.
 
''The Investigator'' (aired 1997) starred [[Helen Baxendale]] as an RMP Staff Sergeant. It was about life in the British forces at a time when being homosexual was banned and had serious repercussions. It was based on a true story.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/interview-helen-baxendale-a-good-time-to-be-a-bad-girl-1278855.html |title=Interview: Helen Baxendale: A good time to be a bad girl |newspaper=The Independent |date=16 February 1997 |access-date=9 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/salutary-lessons-in-army-bigotry-1260051.html |title=When Caroline Meagher (left) joined the military police she thought she would be investigating serious crime. Instead she found herself involved in a witch hunt against lesbians that was to end in disaster when her own affair was uncovered, writes Barbara Machin |newspaper=The Independent |date=6 May 1997 |access-date=8 January 2018}}</ref>
The RMP also issues dark blue [[stab vest]]s which display the RMP brassard flash. Every RMP soldier is issued with a reversible high visibility (Hi Viz or HV) saffron yellow jacket.
 
''The Real Redcaps'' was a television documentary series about the Royal Military Police which aired from 2003 to 2005. It shows the RMP in the Second Gulf War, their training in (then) Chichester, Close Protection (CP) training, SIB work in Iraq, and other duties such as policing troops in Germany. It also shows the Military Provost Staff Corps Military Provost Guard Service manning MCTC Colchester.<ref>The Real Redcaps, Produced by Anglia Television/Channel Television/Meridian Broadcasting for ITV 2005.</ref>
Most RMP patrol cars are marked in standard police battenburg scheme and are fitted with Home Office police radios (in the UK).
 
''[[7 Seconds (film)|7 Seconds]]'' is a 2005 direct-to-DVD film starring [[Wesley Snipes]], that follows the actions of female Royal Military Police Sergeant Kelly Anders (Tamzin Outhwaite). When an experienced thief accidentally makes off with a valuable [[Vincent van Gogh|Van Gogh]] painting, his partner is kidnapped by gangsters in pursuit of the painting, forcing the thief to hatch a rescue plan, in which he joins forces with RMP Sgt Anders.<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q270026|id=tt0417395|title=7 Seconds}}</ref>
The RMP also uses the [[Home Office Large Major Enquiry System]] (HOLMES), as well as having 24-hour access to the [[Police National Computer]] database
 
In the 2014 film ''[[Edge of Tomorrow (film)|Edge of Tomorrow]]'', acting as guards around the Army's command post in London, military personnel wearing a futuristic 'MP' arm band and scarlet berets are shown throughout the film. In one of the chase scenes, RMP troops pursued Major William Cage ([[Tom Cruise]]) where an RMP soldier in a mechanical suit stops Cage by destroying the front of his getaway car, leading to his capture.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edgeoftomorrowmovie.com/ |title=Edge of Tomorrow |access-date=2 October 2016}}</ref>
 
[[The Missing (British TV series)|''The Missing'']] was a British TV Drama broadcast on the BBC which featured members of the Royal Military Police in several leading and supporting roles, including [[Laura Fraser]] as Eve Stone, a Sergeant (later Staff Sergeant) in the RMP.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/missing-eerie-details-alices-suffering-during-11-year-disappearance-emerges-1587260 |title=The Missing: Eerie details of Alice's suffering during 11-year disappearance emerges |first=Lucia |last=Binding |date=19 October 2016 |access-date=7 May 2017}}</ref>
 
''[[The Last Post (TV series)|The Last Post]]'' is a 2017 BBC television drama series featuring the men and families of the RMP during the [[Aden Emergency]].<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q42301897|id=tt5133742|title=The Last Post}}</ref>
 
''[[Strike (TV series)|Strike]]'' is a Cinemax/BBC television drama series, from the novels by [[J. K. Rowling|Robert Galbraith]]. The main character, Cormoran Blue ("C.B.") Strike is a veteran [[Special Investigation Branch|SIB]] Sergeant who becomes a private investigator in London after being severely injured by a roadside IED in Afghanistan. The character is played by [[Tom Burke (actor)|Tom Burke]].<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q28443753|id=tt4276618|title=Strike}}</ref>
 
==See also==
* [[Defence Serious Crime Unit]]
*[[Regimental police]]
* [[Military police of the United Kingdom]]
*[[Royal Navy Regulating Branch]]
* [[RoyalMinistry Airof ForceDefence Police]]
* [[Regimental Police]] (Regimental Provost Staff)
*[[Policing in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Royal Air Force Police]]
* [[Royal Marines Police]]
* [[Royal Navy Police]]
* [[Service Police Crime Bureau]]
* [[Intelligence Corps (United Kingdom)]]
 
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
 
===Bibliography===
{{UK Police1}}
* {{cite book |last1=Durie |first1=William |title=The British Garrison Berlin 1945 - 1994: nowhere to go ... a pictorial historiography of the British Military occupation / presence in Berlin |date=2012 |publisher=Vergangenheitsverlag ([[:de:Vergangenheitsverlag|de]]) |___location=Berlin |isbn=978-3-86408-068-5 |language=English |oclc=978161722}}
 
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.army.mod.uk/rmp/ Official RMP website]
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.corpsofmilitarypolice.org/ Database of Military Police Casualties and Decorations]
 
{{British Army navbox}}
{{UK private and military police forces}}
{{Police forces in Ireland}}
{{Authority control}}
 
[[Category:Royal Military Police| ]]
[[Category:British administrative corps]]
[[Category:Military police agencies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]
 
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in the Iraq War]]
[[no:Royal Military Police]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1946]]
[[Category:1946 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Adjutant General's Corps]]
[[Category:Military provosts]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Military_Police"