Regimental Police

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Regimental Police (RPs) are soldiers responsible for regimental discipline enforcement and unit custody in the British Army and some other Commonwealth armies. They belong to the regiment or corps which they police instead of to the Royal Military Police or its equivalent.

[edit] United Kingdom

Most battalions and regiments 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 brassards they wear, which carry the letters "RP". Unlike Military Police, RPs carry no warrant card; however, they do have the power to arrest soldiers of the same or lesser rank under the Army Act 1955.

[edit] Singapore

The roles of the RPs in the Singapore Armed Forces are similar, in that they too enforce discipline and are responsible for the security of the camp or base that they work in. Almost all RPs are Full-time National Servicemen. The RPs in Singapore are split into two different groups.

Army Regimental Policemen usually work office-hours (8am-5pm). During the night, Army RPs generally leave the protection of the camp to the guard duty personnel, although a Duty RP or two stay with them to supervise them. Depending on the soldier's medical condition, an Army RP may be allowed to guard the gate with rifle and ammunition, or with just a baton and shield. Army RP training takes two weeks, and usually takes place in a Military Police training ground.

Air Force RPs, in contrast to Army Regimental Policemen, have much higher appointments and responsibilities. These trainees undertake the three-month Field Defence Course (FDC), which includes rigorous physical and mental training, as well as teaching advanced security and fighting techniques. They are trained in various types of weapons.

In the final theory exam in FDC, trainees must pass the Military Security Knowledge Exam (MSKE) in order to pass out.