Regimental Police
Encyclopedia
Regimental Police sometimes called Regimental Provost Staff in the United Kingdom, are soldiers responsible for regimental discipline enforcement and unit custody in the British Army
, some other Commonwealth
armies and some armed forces structured in the British tradition. They belong to the regiment or corps
which they police instead of to the Royal Military Police
or its equivalent.
s and regiment
s and the Royal Marines
Commandos have an RP section, usually headed by the Regimental Provost Sergeant
, who operates under the authority of the Regimental Sergeant Major
(RSM). They are normally responsible for the maintenance of good order and military discipline, with more serious offences being passed to the specialists of the Royal Military Police
.
Members of a regiment's Provost Section can be identified by the brassard
s they wear, which carry the letters "RP". Unlike Service Police, RPs carry no warrant card
; They have arrest powers similar to that of citizen's arrest. They are not police officers.
are similar, in that they too enforce discipline and are responsible for the security of the base they are assigned to. RPs are usually Full-time National Servicemen
, and are be broadly divided into two different groups.
Army Regimental Policemen are called Security Troopers (ST) and usually work office-hours (8am-5pm). The responsibility of night security is usually assigned to the unit's guard duty personnel, although a Duty ST may stay on in a supervisory role. Depending on the individual soldier's medical and combat rating, an Army RP may be allowed to guard the gate with rifle and live ammunition, or with just a baton and shield. ST training takes six weeks and formerly, it was held at the Military Police Training School (MPTS) & 2 PDF Training Centre, but now, it is held at the 8th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment
.
Air Force and Navy
RPs are called Field Defence Troopers in the Air Force, and Sea Soldiers in the Navy; and are organized at the squadron level. In contrast to Army Regimental Policemen, Field Defence Squadron (FDS) troopers have much higher appointments and responsibilities. Trainees undertake the twelve weeks Field Defence Course (FDC), which includes rigorous physical and mental training, as well as teaching advanced security and fighting techniques. They are trained in small arms, less-lethal weaponry and crew-served weapons. In the final theory exam in FDC, trainees must pass the Military Security Knowledge Exam (MSKE) in order to pass out. FD Squadrons are organized at the battalion level during wartime, and normally field reinforced company-sized units. Unlike their Army counterparts, Air Force and Navy RPs are stationed at their base 24/7.
In both cases, military installations are normally assisted by Military Policemen seconded from the Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command, who have greater powers of arrest and detention. These MPs operate in a manner dependent on the local base security, carrying out normal duties within the unit according to their rank, or deployed solely to perform access control into the base at key entry points. Members of the Regimental police are always dressed in battle fatigues when on official duty and Field Defence Troopers wear a camouflaged brassard, with the letters "RP" in red.
level have a small Regimental Police detachment. In the Belgian forces, duties tend to be limited to providing access control and ensuring general base security during normal working hours, with special security teams taking over out of hours. Belgian Regimental Police belong to the unit they police and wear a black brassard bearing the red letters 'RP' on the left upper arm together with a white webbing belt.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, some other Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
armies and some armed forces structured in the British tradition. They belong to the regiment or corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
which they police instead of to the Royal Military Police
Royal Military Police
The Royal Military Police 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 whilst service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises.Members of the RMP are generally known as...
or its equivalent.
United Kingdom
Most Army battalionBattalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s and regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
s and the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
Commandos have an RP section, usually headed by the Regimental Provost Sergeant
Provost Sergeant
A Provost Sergeant is a non-commissioned officer associated with military police.-United Kingdom and Commonwealth:In the British Army and land forces of the Commonwealth, a Provost Sergeant is the non-commissioned officer in charge of the regimental police and is responsible to the Regimental...
, who operates under the authority of the Regimental Sergeant Major
Regimental Sergeant Major
Regimental Sergeant Major is an appointment held by warrant officers class 1 in the British Army, the British Royal Marines and in the armies of many Commonwealth nations, including Australia and New Zealand; and by chief warrant officers in the Canadian Forces...
(RSM). They are normally responsible for the maintenance of good order and military discipline, with more serious offences being passed to the specialists of the Royal Military Police
Royal Military Police
The Royal Military Police 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 whilst service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises.Members of the RMP are generally known as...
.
Members of a regiment's Provost Section can be identified by the brassard
Brassard
A brassard or armlet is an armband or piece of cloth or other material worn around the upper arm, used as an item of military uniform to which rank badges may be attached instead of being stitched into the actual clothing...
s they wear, which carry the letters "RP". Unlike Service Police, RPs carry no warrant card
Warrant card
A warrant card is proof of identification and authority carried by police officers. The term is normally used only within the United Kingdom and in current and former Commonwealth countries...
; They have arrest powers similar to that of citizen's arrest. They are not police officers.
Singapore
The roles of the Regimental Policemen in the Singapore Armed ForcesSingapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
are similar, in that they too enforce discipline and are responsible for the security of the base they are assigned to. RPs are usually Full-time National Servicemen
National Service in Singapore
Conscription in Singapore, called National Service , requires all male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents who have reached the age of 18 to enrol in the military...
, and are be broadly divided into two different groups.
Army Regimental Policemen are called Security Troopers (ST) and usually work office-hours (8am-5pm). The responsibility of night security is usually assigned to the unit's guard duty personnel, although a Duty ST may stay on in a supervisory role. Depending on the individual soldier's medical and combat rating, an Army RP may be allowed to guard the gate with rifle and live ammunition, or with just a baton and shield. ST training takes six weeks and formerly, it was held at the Military Police Training School (MPTS) & 2 PDF Training Centre, but now, it is held at the 8th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment
Singapore Infantry Regiment
The Singapore Infantry Regiment is the main formation of the Singapore Army. It consists of eight full-time battalions and a number of National Service , or Reservist battalions.-History:...
.
Air Force and Navy
Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...
RPs are called Field Defence Troopers in the Air Force, and Sea Soldiers in the Navy; and are organized at the squadron level. In contrast to Army Regimental Policemen, Field Defence Squadron (FDS) troopers have much higher appointments and responsibilities. Trainees undertake the twelve weeks Field Defence Course (FDC), which includes rigorous physical and mental training, as well as teaching advanced security and fighting techniques. They are trained in small arms, less-lethal weaponry and crew-served weapons. In the final theory exam in FDC, trainees must pass the Military Security Knowledge Exam (MSKE) in order to pass out. FD Squadrons are organized at the battalion level during wartime, and normally field reinforced company-sized units. Unlike their Army counterparts, Air Force and Navy RPs are stationed at their base 24/7.
In both cases, military installations are normally assisted by Military Policemen seconded from the Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command, who have greater powers of arrest and detention. These MPs operate in a manner dependent on the local base security, carrying out normal duties within the unit according to their rank, or deployed solely to perform access control into the base at key entry points. Members of the Regimental police are always dressed in battle fatigues when on official duty and Field Defence Troopers wear a camouflaged brassard, with the letters "RP" in red.
Belgium
Most units at battalionBattalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
level have a small Regimental Police detachment. In the Belgian forces, duties tend to be limited to providing access control and ensuring general base security during normal working hours, with special security teams taking over out of hours. Belgian Regimental Police belong to the unit they police and wear a black brassard bearing the red letters 'RP' on the left upper arm together with a white webbing belt.