| Royal Air Force Police | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 April 1918-Present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Service Police |
| Role | Policing and Counter-intelligence |
| Motto | Fiat justitia (Latin: Let justice be done) |
| March | RAF Police March Past |
The Royal Air Force Police (RAFP) is the Service Police branch of the Royal Air Force. It was formed on 1 April 1918, when the RAF was formed by the merger of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). It is responsible for the policing of all service personnel much like there RN or Army counterparts. The RAFP are usually based within RAF stations and installations.
RAF Police non-commissioned officers and warrant officers are noticeable by their white-topped caps (giving rise to their nickname of Snowdrops), which they have worn since 1945, and by black and red flashes worn below their rank slides (known as Mars Bars). RAF Police commissioned officers wear the standard peaked cap of all Royal Air Force officers, although they wear 'Mars Bars' in the same way as RAFP NCOs. Unlike their British Army colleagues in the Royal Military Police, RAFP personnel do not wear a distinctive red beret when wearing camouflaged uniform, although they do wear the same 'MP' badges, the internationally recognised symbol for military police personnel.
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The RAF Police is headed by the Provost Marshal, who holds the rank of Group Captain. Group Captain John Whitmell is the current Provost Marshal (RAF).
There is a detachment of RAFP at most RAF stations. Usually the detachment consists of a flight, commanded by a Flying Officer or Flight Lieutenant. Either a Flight Sergeant or Sergeant is usually the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of a flight. A Warrant Officer sometimes commands a police flight in place of a commissioned officer, or acts as second-in-command of the flight at larger establishments. These flights are then responsible to and directed by RAF Police Squadrons, that are based at larger stations around the UK, who are themselves responsible to, and directed by the Provost Marshal of the RAF Police, through their respective Wing Commanders.
RAF Policemen and women are not responsible to, or under the direct command of, the Commanding Officer of the station at which they are based and their authority to act as Service Police Officers stems directly from the Armed Forces Act 2006. Service Police Officers are also capable of issuing lawful commands to any service person, no matter what rank or trade.
The RAF Police also fulfills the RAF's Protective Security (PS) role, similar to that carried out by the British Army, Intelligence Corps. Unlike their Intelligence Corps counterparts, who tend to specialise in a particular area, RAF Police Protective Security specialists are trained in all aspects of the role. IT Security (ITSy) is a further specialisation within the protective security field and personnel trained to this level, are expected to perform all PS and ITSy related tasks.
Modern RAF Police flights may operate shifts, but these are usually only involved in general policing duties and are normally commanded by a Substantive Corporal (larger shifts may require a Sergeant). The police flight will normally consist of a Community Police Section, a General Police Duties Section, and a Protective Security Section.
When deploying on operations (currently Operation Herrick) RAF Policemen and women are employed on Counter IED teams, Afghan National Police liaison teams, in Infantry Close Support roles, force protection duties or duties involving Air Transport Security, as well as general policing duties.
The Royal Air Force Police also has its own Special Investigation Branch (SIB) for the investigation of serious crime. This is effectively the RAF's version of a civilian police Criminal Investigation Department who, like them, operate in plain clothes. This is known as the Specialist Police Wing (SPW), and is split into four geographical regions covering the United Kingdom and Germany. This section of the RAFP is also responsible for forensic investigation through the RAF's own Forensic Science Flight.
The RAFP also has a tactical, deployable squadron, known as the Tactical Provost Wing (TPW). Their major role is forward policing and 'line of communication policing' (LoCP) in conflict zones. TPW was heavily involved in Operation Telic, and are still heavily involved in operations in Afghanistan.
Some RAFP members are also trained in close protection (CP) and carry out CP duties wherever required, ensuring the safety of VIPs and other dignitaries in hostile territories.
The RAFP operates a large police dog section, with detachments at many RAF stations. These dogs are referred to as Air Dog followed by their name,[1] (Air Dog Rex, for example). RAF Police dogs and their handlers currently support overseas operations in theaters such as Iraq & Afghanistan, in both patrol and specialist search roles. As well as their usual German Shepherd dogs, more commonly known as Alsatians, used for the 'attack' role, Labradors and Spaniels are well utilised for their expertise as 'sniffer' dogs for drugs and explosives.
RAF Police are now trained at the Defence College of Policing and Guarding, at MOD Southwick Park, along with the Royal Navy Police and Royal Military Police.
Training in the 1950s was at RAF Netheravon in Wiltshire, and in the 1960s at RAF Debden near Saffron Walden. Until the mid-1990s, trade training took place at RAF Newton in Nottinghamshire, training then moved to RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire until the consolidation of all MoD policing training at Southwick Park in 2004.
Basic RAF Police training includes:
Personnel are also required to maintain good physical fitness and this is tested every six months.
No 3 (Tactical) Police Squadron (TPS) is based at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire as an integral part of the Tactical Provost Wing (TPW).[2]
3 (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) Police Squadron formed as a consequence of the assumptions made in the Strategic Defence Review, Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Defence (then the Rt. Hon. George Robertson MP) by Command of Her Majesty in July 1998. Specifically, this recognised that deployed air operations are likely to take place at the end of a long supply chain or line of communication. Control of this line of communication is a task which falls to two of the service police organisations: Royal Air Force Police and the Royal Military Police. To undertake this expanded task, the strength of the RAF Police was increased by a number of both regular personnel, and reservists. After a study, it was decided that the most effective way for the reservists to be formed, was as members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. These personnel would then be integrated with the existing Tactical Police and Security Squadron to form Tactical Police Wing. Recruiting for 3 (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) Police Squadron, began in earnest in October 2002.
TPW is an independent Unit based at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire. The Wing has its roots in the Support Squadron of Headquarters, Royal Air Force Provost and Security Services. This was formed in 1968 to provide a force reserve for the Provost Marshal to deploy in support of operations, exercises and other contingencies. It was re-titled Tactical Police and Security Squadron in 1996 as part of an increased focus on support to deployed operations.
The primary focus for the Squadron, and latterly for TPW, has been Lines of Communication Policing and policing of deployed operations and exercises in the United Kingdom and overseas. The Wing also covers the air transport fleet worldwide, through searches of passengers and cargo. As well as guarding aircraft and cargo, and the assessment of airfield security. In addition it continues to provide Royal Air Force Police personnel for military policing and security tasks, on both deployed operating bases, and in wider operational areas. There have been few Royal Air Force operations in the last 30 years which have not seen the deployment of RAF Police personnel, including RAuxAF Police since 2002.
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