Jump to content

Royal Military Police

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by SonofSetanta (talk | contribs) at 18:10, 2 November 2014 (→‎The RMP in popular culture: Nicknames). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Royal Military Police
File:RMP cap badge British Army.jpg
Royal Military Police cap badge
Active28 November 1946-Present
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
RoleMilitary Police
Size2,500
RHQ RMPDefence College of Policing and Guarding
Nickname(s)Redcaps, Monkeys (derog)
Motto(s)Exemplo Ducemus
By example, shall we lead
BeretRed
MarchThe Watchtower (Hoch Heidecksburg)
Commanders
Colonel-in-ChiefHM The Queen
Deputy Colonel CommandantLieutenant-General Sir Nick Carter
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash
Arms of the British Army
Combat Arms
Combat Support Arms
Combat Services

The Royal Military Police (RMP) is the corps of the British Army responsible for the policing of 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 their ubiquitous scarlet-topped peaked caps, or scarlet coloured berets.

The RMP 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 (MMP). This was followed by the Military Foot Police (MFP) in 1885. The Military Mounted Police first engaged in combat in 1882 at the Battle of Tel el-Kebir. Although technically two independent corps, the 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.

Non-commissioned members of the RMP receive their basic training as soldiers, at the Army Training Regiment in Winchester. They then receive further training at the Defence College of Policing and Guarding. RMP commissioned officers are trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, as are all other British Army officers.

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".

History

Main article: 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.[1] In 1685 the role of Provost Marshal General became a permanent post.[1] The Military Mounted Police was formed in 1877 and the Military Foot Police was formed in 1885.[1]

During the First World War the Military Police grew from 508 all ranks to over 25,000 all ranks by the end of the War.[1] During the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 the Military Police served the Army as a whole rather than just individual units.[1]

On 27 February 1926 the Corps of Military Police was formed by merging the Military Mounted Police and the Military Foot Police.[1]

During the Second World War the Military Police grew from 4,121 all ranks to over 50,000 all ranks within six major branches of specialists:[1]

  • Special Investigation Branch - The S.I.B. was first 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 U.K. 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 wer later deployed in the Middle East, Italy and North-West Europe. The Wing was phased out of the Corps by 1946.(Many sources over the years continue to erroneously state that personnel of the Traffic Control Wing wore white cloth cap covers. This is not the case. CMP (TC) personnel did not wear cap covers when on duty, unless they had undergone a basic course in police duties, in which case they were authorised to wear red top covers as per the Provost Wing).
  • Field Security Wing - First formed in 1937, personnel of the F.S.W. wore lincoln green cap covers 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.

In November 1946 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).[1] From 1969 the Corps made an important contribution during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.[1]

Role

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

Broadly speaking, within the United Kingdom and its overseas garrisons, 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:[2]

  • Law enforcement and crime prevention, within the service community
  • Assistance to civilian police forces in garrison towns

When deployed on operations

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:[2]

  • 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 close protection operatives for senior military personnel on operations[3][4]

Jurisdiction

In the United Kingdom

Royal Military Police personnel are not constables under UK law and do not have any specific police powers over the general public, only whilst dealing with service personnel. However, the RMP can utilise the powers, available to all persons in England and Wales, under Section 24(A) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984; which allows any person to arrest any individual they have reasonable grounds to believe is committing, or has committed, an indictable offence, and that a constable is not available to perform the arrest (essentially a citizen's arrest).[5] They are allowed to use such force as is reasonable in the circumstance to achieve this.[6] The RMP are subject to inspection by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, in the same way as UK civilian police forces.[7]

RMP personnel sometimes have powers, conferred by Military lands byelaws, to give lawful directions to civilians who are on Ministry of Defence land affected by such byelaws. This may included 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.[8][9]

A member of the Royal Military Police can arrest any individual in the UK whom he has reasonable grounds to believe to be a serving member of HM Armed Forces and he has committed a relevant civil or military law offence.[10] RMP personnel do not have to be on Ministry of Defence land to exercise their authority over service personnel.[2] 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 RAF Police also have reciprocal police powers over British Army personnel.[11]

Postings overseas

Main article: 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 civilians subject to service discipline. This includes, not exclusively, service dependents and overseas contractors sponsored by the British Army.[11]

In Germany, under the Status of forces agreement, the RMP has jurisdiction and primacy over British service personnel, their families, MoD contractors, and NAAFI staff.[12] The German civil police only normally become involved where the interests of a German national are concerned.[12]

Equipment

File:MDP exeter 2006.jpg
An RMP NCO—accompanied by an MDP officer (right)—patrol Exeter city centre on OP Dissuade, the policing of alcohol-related disorder committed by off-duty service personnel in 2006.
Royal Military Police Opel Vectra patrol car in Germany

Royal Military Police personnel undertaking general police duties are equipped with extendable batons, Hiatt speedcuffs and Airwave personal radios.[13]

The RMP also uses the Home Office Large Major Enquiry System, known as HOLMES.[14]

Training

Main article: Defence College of Policing and Guarding

RMP commissioned officers attend the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, as do all other British Army officers. 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 College of Policing and Guarding.[15]

The training syllabus includes:

Organisation

The regimental headquarters of the RMP moved to MOD Southwick Park, near Portsmouth in February 2007. It is co-located with the tri-service Defence College of Policing and Guarding.[16] The RMP training centre moved there on 27 September 2005 from the RMP's long-standing RHQ 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.[17]

Colonels Commandant

Colonels Commandant include:[18]

Current RMP units

Current RMP units include:[22]

Great Britain

Northern Ireland

  • Northern Ireland Detachment, 174 Pro Coy 3 RMP
    • Weapons Intelligence Section (WIS)
    • Legal Process Office (LPO)
    • 38 Sect, 1(Inv)Coy SIB Regt RMP

Germany

  • 1 Regiment RMP
    • 110 Provost Company (Paderborn) (20 Armoured Brigade)
    • 111 Provost Company (Bergen Hohne) (7 Armoured Brigade)
    • 114 Provost Company (Gütersloh, Germany) (102 Logistic Brigade)
  • 5 Regiment RMP

Each individual regular RMP company will have smaller Police stations and Police posts at other locations in their area where there is a sizeable Army presence.

  • Special Investigation Branch (G) (SIB (G) RMP)
    • HQ SIB (G)
    • Specialist Support Unit (Crime Scene Management and Technical Support)
    • 70 Section SIB (G)
    • 72 Section SIB (G) (Gütersloh Detachment)
    • 72 Section SIB (G) (Bielefeld Detachment)
    • 74 Section SIB (G) (Sennelager)
    • 76 Section SIB (G) (Now Bielefeld Detachment)
    • 87 Section SIB (G) (Monchengladbach, co-located with 101 Provost Company)

Other units

The RMP are also currently deployed (22.5% of manpower) around the world in Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.[16]

Supplementary Reserve and Territorial Army

Supplementary Reserve

In 1938, the Secretary of the Automobile Association, Sir Stenson Cooke, a former member of the Military Foot Police, approached the War Office with an offer to raise a Supplementary Reserve for the Corps of Military Police, from employees of the A A. This offer was quickly accepted and 850 A A patrolmen signed on as members of the CMP (SR) by 1939. These were mobilised in September 1939 and used to raise new Provost Companies for the British Expeditionary Force in France and for Home Forces in the United Kingdom. In March 1940, 151 Provost Company, CMP was formed in France, predominantly from A A Supplementary Reservists, as the first Traffic Control Company in the British Army. It distinguished itself during the battle of France but due to its high casualties was disbanded on returning to England in June 1940.

The Supplementary Reserve was restarted in 1949 and renamed as the Army Emergency Reserve in 1951. Numerous RMP (AER) units were raised, administered by HQ RMP AER at Inkerman Barracks, Woking; these included Army and Corps Provost Companies and Vulnerable Points Companies as well as SIB Sections. The RMP AER recruited heavily from ex-Regular and National Service RMP personnel, as well as the civilian Police and Automobile Association. The annual training commitment of the AER units was lower than that of the TA, with personnel only required to attend one 15 day camp each year, with no weekly or monthly continuation training. In 1951 the composition of RMP AER was as follows;

The RMP (AER) Pool - comprising an establishment of 44 Officers and some 830 NCOs and Other Ranks, who would reinforce Regular Army and TA units in the event of mobilisation for war.

Seven General Headquarters Provost Companies (240 - 246 (GHQ) Pro Coy, RMP (AER).

Two Home Command Provost Companies (153 and 154 (HC) Pro Coy, RMP (AER).

Two Port Provost Companies (2 and 3 Port Pro Coy, RMP (AER).

One Provost Signal Company (1 Prov Sig Coy, RMP (AER).

Eleven Vulnerable Points Companies (300 - 310 V P Coy, RMP (AER).

Six Special Investigation Branch Sections (81 - 86 SIS Sec, RMP (AER).

By 1961 this had been reduced to 243 (GHQ) Pro Coy, 161 Force Pro Unit, 162 and 163 Rear Area Pro Unit, 1 Port Task Force Pro Coy, RMP (AER), plus 81 and 82 Det (Rear Area) SIB, RMP (AER).

Territorial Army

In February 1939, as part of the reorganisation of the Territorial Army Field Forces announced the previous Autumn, the formation of thirteen Territorial Army Companies of the Corps of Military Police was authorised, on a scale on one for each TA Division. These Companies were raised from April 1939 onwards as follows;

The Mobile Division Provost Company, CMP (TA) - St Pancras, London; in November 1939 this was converted to No.2 Line of Communications Provost Company, CMP.

42 (East Lancashire)Division Provost Company, CMP (TA)- Manchester.

43 (Wessex) Division Provost Company, CMP (TA) - Salisbury and Bournemouth.

44 (Home Counties) Division Provost Company, CMP (TA) - St Pancras, London.

48 (South Midland) Division Provost Company, CMP (TA) - Birmingham.

49 (West Riding) Division Provost Company, CMP (TA) - Leeds.

50 (Northumbrian) Division Provost Company, CMP (TA)- Hull.

51 (Highland) Division Provost Company, CMP (TA) - Dundee. The bulk of this Company was captured at St Valery in June 1940 and a new Company under the same title had to be formed back in England.

52 (Lowland) Division Provost Company, CMP (TA) - Glasgow.

53 (Welsh) Division Provost Company, CMP (TA) - Llanelli. This converted to form 105th Provost Company, CMP in 1941 and a new 53rd Div Pro Coy was then formed.

54 (East Anglian) Division Provost Company, CMP (TA) - Chelmsford. In 1943 this converted to Beach Group duties and was redesignated 242 (Headquarters) Provost Company, CMP.

55 (West Lancashire) Division Provost Company, CMP (TA) - Southport.

The London Division Provost Company, CMP (TA) - Finsbury, London. In late 1939 it became 1 London Div Pro Coy and then 56 (London) Division Provost Company, CMP in November 1940.

The TA was mobilised on September 1st 1939 and on September 6th ceased to exist, as it was merged with the Regular Army for the duration of the war. Early in 1940, each of the former TA Companies formed a second, duplicate, Company, normally by detaching one or more Sections to form the nucleus of the new unit, and in this way the 9 (Scottish), 12 (Eastern), 15 (Scottish), 18 (Eastern), 23 (Northumbrian), 38 (Welsh), 45 (Wessex), 46 (North Midland), 59 (Staffordshire), 61 (South Midland), 66 and 2 London (later 47) Division Provost Companies were raised. Not all the former TA Companies survived the war intact but by April 1946 the remaining units had been stood down.

When the TA was reconstituted in January 1947 Provost Companies were once again formed for each Armoured, Airborne and Infantry Division in the TA, plus three Corps Provost Companies and several independent Brigade Provost Units. Successive reorganisations during the 1950s and 1960s altered the composition of the RMP (TA, units being raised as follows;

16 Airborne Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) - London. In 1956 this became 44 Independent Parachute Brigade Group Provost Company, RMP (TA), with Sections in London and Liverpool.

42 (Lancashire) Infantry Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) - Manchester. It became North-West District/42 Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) in 1961.

43 (Wessex) Infantry Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) - Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset. In 1961 it was split to form 43 (Wessex) Division/District Provost Company, RMP (TA) and The Aldershot District Provost Company, RMP (TA).

44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) - Maidstone, later moving HQ to Tunbridge Wells. In 1961 it became 44 (Home Counties) Division/District Provost Company, RMP (TA).

49 (West Riding and North Midland) Armoured Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) - Leeds. In 1956 this became 49th (West Riding and North Midland) Infantry Division Provost Company, RMP (TA)and then North Midland District/49 Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) in 1961.

50 (Northumbrian) Infantry Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) - Hull. It became Northumbrian District/50 Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) in 1961.

51/52 (Scottish) Infantry Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) - Dundee. In 1950 it became known as 51st (Highland) Infantry Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) and HQ moved to Perth, becoming 51 (Highland) Division/District Provost Company, RMP (TA) in 1961.

53 (Welsh) Infantry Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) - Cardiff, becoming 53 (Welsh) Division/District Provost Company, RMP (TA) in 1961.

56 (London) Armoured Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) - Stoke Newington. In 1956 it became 56 (London) Infantry Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) and when this Division disbanded in 1961, re-roled as 251 (GHQ) Provost Company, RMP (TA).

9 Independent Armoured Brigade Provost Unit, RMP (TA) - Birmingham. In 1956 it became 2 Port Task Force Provost Company, RMP (TA)

23 Independent Armoured Brigade Provost Unit, RMP (TA) - Southport.

30 (Lowland) Independent Armoured Brigade Provost Unit, RMP (TA) - Glasgow. In 1949 it became 52 (Lowland) Infantry Division Provost Company, RMP (TA) and split in 1961 to form 52 (Lowland) Division/District Provost Company, RMP (TA) and The East Lowland District Provost Company, RMP (TA).

107 (Ulster) Independent Infantry Brigade Provost Unit, RMP (TA) - Belfast. This was redesignated in 1961 as The Northern Ireland Command Provost Company, RMP (TA).

161 (East Anglian) and 162 (East Anglian) Independent Infantry Brigade Provost Unit, RMP (TA) - These two separate units were formed in 1950 at Chingford and Hemel Hempstead respectively. In 1956 they amalgamated to form 54 (East Anglian) Infantry Division Provost Company, RMP (TA), becoming 54 (East Anglian) Division/District Provost Company, RMP (TA) in 1961.

120 (Northern) Corps Provost Company, RMP (TA) - Leicester. Renumbered as 21 (Northern) Corps Pro Coy, RMP (TA) in 1951, then again as 252 (GHQ) Provost Company, RMP (TA) in 1955.

121 (Western) Corps Provost Company, RMP (TA) - Wolverhampton. Renumbered as 22 (Western) Corps Pro Coy, RMP (TA) in 1951, then re-roled as 1 Corps Provost Signal Company, RMP (TA) in 1955.

122 (Southern) Corps Provost Company, RMP (TA) - Finsbury. Renumbered as 23 (Southern) Corps Pro Coy, RMP (TA) in 1951, then again as 253 (GHQ) Provost Company, RMP (TA) in 1955, relocating to Tulse Hill, London.

Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve

On April 1st 1967 the TA and AER were amalgamated to form the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve (T&AVR) (Becoming simply The Territorial Army in 1978). The following RMP (Volunteers) units were formed;

163 (A.A) Ports Provost Company, RMP (V), 1 Port Task Force Provost Company, RMP (V) (Later renumbered as 164 Provost Company) and 83 Section, SIB RMP (V). These were all located at Central Volunteer HQ RMP (V) at Rousillon Barracks, Chichester, and were successors to the former RMP AER units. The units continued to recruit heavily from the Automobile Association and the civil Police.

243 Provost Company, RMP (V) - HQ Edinburgh, Sections at Southampton and Belfast. Raised from 51 (Highland), 52 (Lowland), East Lowland District, Aldershot District and Northern Ireland Command Pro Coy, RMP (TA). In 1975 Southampton Det transferred to 253 Pro Coy and Belfast Section formed a new Company, 254 Provost Company, RMP (V).

252 (GHQ) Provost Company, RMP (V) - HQ Stockton-on-Tees. Raised from NM Dist/49 Div, Nbrian Dist/50 Div and Yorks District Pro Coy, RMP (TA).

253 (GHQ) Provost Company, RMP (V) - Tulse Hill, London. Raised from 251, 253, 44 (HC) Div/Dist, 54 (EA) Div/Dist and 44 Para Bde Pro Coy, RMP (TA). The latter formed 1 Parachute Provost Platoon, RMP (V) which was administered as part of 253 Pro Coy but remained attached to 44 Parachute Bde (V). It was disbanded in 1978.

Operation Telic casualties

Main article: Operation Telic

British operations in Iraq, including the 2003 invasion, were carried out under the name Operation Telic, which claimed the lives of several members of the RMP.

  • 24 June 2003, Al Majar Al Kabir, Iraq:

All personnel shown below were from 156 Provost Company RMP (16 Air Assault Brigade). This incident represented the largest loss of life, on a single day, in RMP history.[23]

    • Sergeant Simon Hamilton-Jewell
    • Corporal Russell Aston
    • Corporal Paul Long
    • Corporal Simon Miller
    • Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde
    • Lance Corporal Thomas Keys
  • 23 August 2003, Basra, Iraq
    • Major Matthew Titchener, 150 Provost Company
    • Company Sergeant Major Colin Wall, 150 Provost Company
    • Corporal Dewi Pritchard, 116 Provost Company (V)
  • 31 October 2004, Basra, Iraq
    • Staff Sergeant Denise Rose, SIB
  • 15 October 2005, Waterloo Lines, Basra, Iraq
    • Captain Ken Masters, Officer Commanding 61 Section SIB[24]
  • 8 July 2007, Basra City, Iraq
    • Corporal Christopher Read, 158 Provost Company, 3rd Regiment RMP[25]

Operation Herrick casualties

Main article: Operation Herrick
  • 30 May 2007, Kajaki, Helmand Province
    • Cpl Mike Gilyeat, Royal Military Police,[26]
  • 7 May 2009,Gereshk, Helmand Province
    • Sgt Benjamin Ross, 173 Pro Coy, Royal Military Police.
  • 22 October 2009, Gereshk, Helmand Province
    • Cpl James Oakland, 156 Provost Company RMP[27][28]
  • 3 November 2009, Nad-e'Ali, Helmand Province
    • Acting Cpl Steven Boote, 116 Provost Company (V), Royal Military Police
    • Cpl Nicholas Webster-Smith, 160 Provost Company, Royal Military Police[29][30]
  • 18 November 2009, (Operation Herrick 11) Helmand Province
    • Sgt Robert David Loughran-Dickson, 160 Provost Company, 4th Regiment Royal Military Police[31]
  • 20 December 2009, Sangin, Helmand Province
    • L/Cpl Michael David Pritchard, 160 Provost Company, 4th Regiment Royal Military Police[32]

Redcap, an ABC television drama series which aired from 1964 to 1966, starred John Thaw as SIB investigator Sergeant (later Staff Sergeant) John Mann.[33]

Red Cap, another television drama series, which aired in 2003 and 2004, starred Tamzin Outhwaite as Sergeant Jo McDonagh, also an SIB investigator.[34][35]

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.[36][37]

The Investigator (aired 1998) stars Helen Baxendale as an RMP SSgt. It is about life in the British forces at a time when being homosexual was banned and had serious repercussions, and is based on a true story.[38]

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) Colchester, 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.[39]

7 Seconds is a 2005 Hollywood feature film starring Wesley Snipes, that follows the actions of female Royal Military Police Sgt Kelly Anders (Tamzin Outhwaite). When an experienced thief accidentally makes off with a Van Gogh, 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 along the way.[40]

In the 2014 film Edge of Tomorrow, acting as guards around the Armys command post in London, military personnel wearing the 'MP' arm band and red beret are shown throughout the film. In one chase scene one RMP soldier in a mechanical suit stops Tom Cruises character by destroying the front of his getaway car, leading to his capture.

Nickname

The derogatory nickname for the RMP used by most soldiers is "Monkeys". The origin of this sobriquet is lost in the mists of time but there are several theories: one that it was given to them when they were based in Gibraltar along with all the other monkeys; another, more plausible explanation is given by the RMP themselves: that the term comes from the fact that a painting exists called "Redcap" by George Lance which features a monkey in a bright red cap. The painting was done in 1847 and it would have been common then to see monkeys with street musicians like organ grinders and the animals would have been clothed in a bright waistcoat and red cap.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Royal Military Police: History". Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Role of the RMP - British Army Website". Army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  3. ^ "Royal Military Police - British Army Website". Army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  4. ^ Ministry of Defence (2012-08-07). "Royal Military Police train for close protection". Mod.uk. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  5. ^ "Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  6. ^ "Criminal Law Act 1967". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  7. ^ "Armed Forces Act 2011". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  8. ^ "Military Lands Act 1892". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  9. ^ "Military Lands Byelaws". Defence Estates. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  10. ^ Armed Forces Act 2006
  11. ^ a b "Armed Forces Act 2006". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  12. ^ a b "NATO - Official text: Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces, 19-Jun.-1951". Nato.int. 1951-06-19. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  13. ^ "Airwave". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  14. ^ "Military Police". Hansard. 17 November 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  15. ^ "A Feather in the Redcap for First Military Police Apprentices". 26 March 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  16. ^ a b RMP Journal
  17. ^ Welcome to the new British Army Website - British Army Website[dead link]
  18. ^ "Colonels Commandant of the Corps of Royal Military Police" (PDF). Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  19. ^ "DEMPSEY, Gen Sir Miles Christopher (1896-1969)". King's Collections. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  20. ^ "No. 44539". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 5 March 1968.
  21. ^ "No. 52885". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 6 April 1992.
  22. ^ "RMP Units". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  23. ^ "Military News | Military Forum". Modoracle.com. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
  24. ^ "Suicide in Basra: The unravelling of a military man". London: The Independent. 31 July 2006. Retrieved 22 May 2010. After a flawless military career that had seen him rise to the rank of captain in just 15 years, the task of leading the British Military Police's investigative unit in Basra should have been the crowning achievement for Ken Masters, a soldier for whom, on missions from Afghanistan to Bosnia, the glass was always half full.
  25. ^ Oracle News[dead link]
  26. ^ "MoD names soldier killed in crash". BBC News. 1 June 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  27. ^ "Bbc News". BBC News. 2009-10-23. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  28. ^ Ministry of Defence (2009-10-23). "Ministry of Defence". Mod.uk. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  29. ^ "Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Military Operations | Soldiers killed in Afghanistan named". Mod.uk. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  30. ^ "Five gun attack dead named by MoD". BBC News. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  31. ^ "Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Military Operations | Sergeant Robert Loughran-Dickson RMP killed in Afghanistan". Mod.uk. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  32. ^ Ministry of Defence (2009-12-22). "Lance Corporal Michael Pritchard killed in Afghanistan - Fatality notice". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  33. ^ Redcap at IMDb
  34. ^ "BBC Red Cap Show page". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  35. ^ Red Cap (TV Series 2003–2004)at IMoB database
  36. ^ Soldier Soldier at IMDb
  37. ^ Soldier Soldier[dead link]
  38. ^ "Interview: Helen Baxendale: A good time to be a bad girl". The Independent. 16 February 1997. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  39. ^ The Real Redcaps, Produced by Anglia Television/Channel Television/Meridian Broadcasting for ITV 2005
  40. ^ 7 Seconds at IMDb

Bibliography

  • British Garrison Berlin 1945 -1994, "No where to go", W. Durie ISBN 978-3-86408-068-5
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military police of the United Kingdom.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Military_Police&oldid=632167611"