Defence Police Forces: Recent changes
to jurisdiction
MINISTRY OF
DEFENCE POLICE
(MDP)
There have been some recent changes to the jurisdiction
of the MDP. These can be summarised as follows:
The Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001
amended the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987, introducing some
modest extensions to jurisdiction that in certain circumstances
allowed MDP officers to act with all the authority of Home Department
constables. This covered requests for MDP officers to assist an
officer from another police force, MDP jurisdiction in emergency
situations, mutual aid to other police forces, jurisdiction for
MDP officers in respect of Defence personnel as victims and authorisations
under the Terrorism Act 2000.
The Police Reform Act 2002 amended the Ministry
of Defence Police Act 1987 and allowed MDP officers serving with
other forces to come under the direction and control of the chief
officer of the relevant force and to have the same powers and
privileges as a member of that force.
SERVICE POLICE
Jurisdiction is contained in the Service Discipline
Acts (Army Act 1955, Air Force Act 1955 and Naval Discipline Act
1957). There have been no recent changes in Service Police jurisdiction.
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