Defence Police Forces
There are five police forces in existence in
the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Four of these are military police
forces and one is a civilian police force. Respective roles, responsibilities
and jurisdiction are set out below.
Ministry of Defence Police
The MDP is the MoD's own civil police force.
All its officers have full constabulary powers in the UK under
the MoD Police Act 1987 and the majority are firearms-trained.
Its primary purpose is to combat the main crime and security risks
faced by the MoD which are: terrorist attack and the threat of
it; disruption and disorder caused by protestors; theft of key
assets; and major financial fraud. Under the 2001 Policing Protocol
between the MDP and Home Department Police Forces, the MDP has
responsibility for the investigation of criminal offences committed
within the jurisdiction afforded by the MDP Act.
Service Police
There are four Service Police (SP) forces in
the MoD: the Royal Military Police; the RAF Police; the Royal
Navy Regulating Branch; and the Royal Marines Police. The SP are
an integral part of the Military Criminal Justice System and their
prime purposes are to support deployed military operations, maintain
military discipline and police the Service community. They exercise
jurisdiction over personnel subject to the Service Discipline
Acts in respect of offences against military law and discipline.
They do not have constabulary powers and, in the UK, specific
offences which are not capable of being tried by Military Courts
Martial remain the province of the Home Department Police Forces
in England and Wales and in Scotland the Scottish Police Forces.
However, where UK armed forces and their civilian components are
stationed overseas, the SP provide a full policing service for
both Service and civilian personnel and their families. Some of
the SP are responsible for the delivery of higher-level security
outputs as part of their policing duties.
Home Department/Scottish Police Forces
Primary responsibility for the maintenance and
enforcement of the criminal law in the UK rests with HD/SPFs.
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