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providing security coverage at the Padang in Singapore during the National Day Parade in 2000.]] Military police ('''MPs''') are the Police of a Military Organization . Military police are concerned with law enforcement (including criminal investigation) on military property and concerning military personnel, installation security, close personal protection of senior military officers, management of Prisoners Of War , management of Military Prison s, traffic control, route signing and resupply route management. Not all military police organizations are concerned with all of these areas, however. These personnel are generally not front-line Combatant s but, especially when directing military convoys, will be at or close to the front line. Some MPs, such as the US MP Corps, are used as the primary defense force in rear area operations. In some countries, a military police force, generically known as a Gendarmerie , although there are a variety of other names, also serves as a national police force, often acting as heavy backup for the civil police and/or policing rural districts. For these duties, such forces are under civilian control and function in the same manner as civilian police forces. This gendarmerie may or may not also function as a military police force within the armed forces. In most countries, military police who are not members of gendarmerie forces do not have police powers over civilians except while on military property. The head of the military police is commonly referred to as the Provost Marshal . This ancient title was originally given to an officer whose duty it was to ensure that the army of the king did no harm to the citizenry. In many countries, military forces have separate Prison s and Judicial System s, different from Civilian Entities . The military possibly also has its own interpretation of Criminal Justice . The status of military police is usually prominently displayed on the Helmet and/or on an Armband , Brassard , or arm or shoulder flash. In the Second World War, the military police of the German Army still used a metal Gorget as an emblem. Naval police are sometimes called Masters-at-arms . MILITARY POLICE IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES Australia In the Australian Army , the Royal Australian Corps Of Military Police also performs the role of a secondary communications network in the front battle zone. Austria The military police of the Austria n '' Bundesheer '' is called the ''Militärstreife'' ("Military Patrol"). Belgium The Belgian Army 's Military Police Group (''Groupe Police Militaire'' in French, ''Groep Militaire Politie'' in Dutch) performs military police duties on behalf of all four components of the Belgian military. The group is headed by a Lieutenant Colonel and has 188 members in five MP detachments. The Military Police Group staff is located in the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in the Brussels suburb of Evere. Alpha Detachment located at Evere covers the province of Flemish Brabant and the capital, Brussels. Bravo Detachment covers the Walloon Brabant, Hainaut and Namur areas and is located at Nivelles . Charlie Detachment located at Marche-en-Famenne covers the Liege and Luxembourg areas. Delta Detachment covers the Limbourg and Antwerp areas and is located at Leopoldsburg . Echo Detachment located at Lombardsijde covers Western and Eastern Flanders . The Military Police force carries out the following missions:
The Belgian Military Police has also taken part in multinational peacekeeping missions such as Afghanistan, Kosovo and Congo. The Federal Police’s Military Crime Division (DJMM) performs all investigations involving the armed forces. In 2003, duties relating to refugees and deserters in wartime were transferred from the then disbanded '' Gendarmerie Nationale '' to the MPs. Members of the former 4 and 6 MP Companies were merged into the new MP Group, along with some Gendarmes previously assigned MP-related duties. Belgian MPs are identified by black armbands with the letters MP in white block letters, worn on the left arm. Brazil Brazil has two types of military police. Each state in Brazil has a '' Polícia Militar '' (PM). These are uniformed gendarmerie forces in charge of patrolling and preventing crime and consist in the principal police forces of the state. They are structured in the same way as the military forces and, up to the early 1960s, some states' military police were even equipped with tanks and artillery. The civil police ('' Polícia Civil '') is in charge of criminal investigation. Each of the , ''Polícia da Marinha'' (SP) in the Navy , and ''Polícia da Aeronaútica'' (PA) in the Air Force . Canada See Also: Canadian Forces Military Police Canadian Forces military police functions are currently carried out by the Canadian Forces Military Police . The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service handles investigations. The Canadian Forces Provost Marshal is the head of the military police in Canada. Prior to the amalgamation of Canada's Army, Navy and Air Force into the unified and the Royal Canadian Air Force Police . The roles of the military police in Canada are separated into two main groups. The first group is Garrison Operations, which includes activities such as investigations and patrols. The second group is operational support in combat operations, such as POW convoy escorts, VIP's close protection, and route reconnaissances. The main tasks for the reserve companies are the Operational tasks, while the regular force concentrates their training on the "Garrison" tasks. The Canadian Military police all wear a red beret regardless of their attachment to the maritime, land or air command. They also wear a brassard on the left arms with bilingual writing: MILITARY POLICE MILITAIRE. Taiwan Unlike military police in many other countries, the . Denmark In Denmark the military police (da: ''militærpoliti'') services, are carried out by branches under each service. The Navy and Army , each got their own MP-branch. The Airforce , doesn't have a MP-branch as such, but has a ''installation guard branch'' (da: ''stationselementet'') and a ''combat support wing'', which handles MP-jobs in either national or international tasks. Furthermore the Home Guard has a police branch, which supports both the civilian Danish Police and the military police. Typical MP-jobs are:
Finland The '' Sotilaspoliisi '' (literally, "Soldier Police") are the military police of the Finnish Defence Forces . The Finnish MPs carry a black armband on the left shoulder with the letters 'SP' in white. A military policeman is usually armed with a 9mm pistol, a baton, pepper spray and handcuffs on his belt. The military police includes both career and conscript personnel, and is primarily used to guard military installations and supervise military traffic. All military police personnel are trained with basic police techniques and usually receive training for fighting in urban areas. The military police have power over civilians only inside military areas and installations. However, a military police patrol may stop a crime that it witnesses in process in a civilian area. Additionally if a military police unit is near to a serious crime taking place, such as a robbery or an assault, and the civilian police are delayed, a military police unit that is near to the scene can offer to handle the situation until the cilvilian police arrive. As with some other Finnish Defence Forces units, the military police can be used to provide assistance to the civilian police when they are undermanned or lack special resources. In such case, the military police may take measures which the civilian police deems necessary. For example, during the 2005 Helsinki World Athletic Championship Games, military police conscripts and career personnel were placed along the Marathon route to prevent the large numbers of spectators from obstructing the runners. In the event of a national emergency the military police would be deployed and given full police powers over civilians depending on the scale of the emergency. The crimes committed by military personnel are, as a rule, investigated by the military. Minor infractions are usually investigated by the career personnel of the unit, while more serious crimes are investigated by the investigative section of the General Staff of the Finnish Defence Forces. In minor matters, the company commander or his superiors may use disciplinary powers, but more serious cases are deferred to the civilian prosecutor who will take the case to the district court. In military cases, the district court and superior courts include military members in addition to the professional judge. Officers with at least major's rank have '' Privilegium Fori '' to have their cases tried by the Court of Appeals as a court of first instance. France The ''Gendarmerie Nationale'' acts as both the military police and one of the two national police forces of France . The '' Gendarmerie Navale '' (also called the ''Gendarmerie Maritime'') polices the Navy (and also acts as a Coast Guard and Water Police force) and the '' Gendarmerie De L'Air '' polices the Air Force ; both are branches of the ''Gendarmerie Nationale''. .]] Germany During World War Two, Germany had numerous military police units. The primary units were the '' Feldgendarmerie '', which comprised members of the ''Gendarmerie''. Other units included the Army Patrol Service (''Heerestreifendienst''), the Train Station Guards (''Bahnhofwache''), and the '' Feldjägerkorps ''. The '' Feldjäger '' are the current military police of the German '' Bundeswehr ''. The term ''Feldjäger'' ("field rifleman" or "field hunter") has a long tradition and dates back to the mid-17th century. They are especially notorious for hunting down deserting conscripts. Their motto is ''Suum Cuique'' ("To each his own", derived from Cicero , ''De Finibus, Bonorum et Malorum'', ''liber V'', 67: "''(...) ut fortitudo in laboribus periculisque cernatur, (...), iustitia in'' suo cuique ''tribuendo.''"). Greece The military police of the Hellenic Army is called the ''Stratonomia'' . www.stratonomia.org India The Corps Of Military Police (CMP) is the military police of the Indian Army . In addition, the CMP is trained to handle prisoners of war and to regulate traffic, as well as to handle basic telecommunication equipment such as telephone exchanges. They can be identified by their red berets, white lanyards and belts, and they also wear a black Brassard with the letters "MP" imprinted in red. Internal policing duties in a regiment (or a station) are handled by the Regimental Police , who are soldiers of the unit who are assigned to policing tasks for a short period of time. They are essentially used to regulate traffic, and can be identified by a black brassard with the letters "RP" embossed in gold or white. The Indian Air Force is policed by the Indian Air Force Police . They can be identified by their white peaked caps, white lanyards and belts (with a pistol holster). They also wear a black brassard with the letters "IAFP" imprinted in red. The Indian Navy has the Navy Police , and they can be identified by a black brassard with the letters "NP" in gold, with the state emblem placed in between the N and the P. Ireland The Irish Military Police (in Irish ''Polini Airm'') wear red coloured berets and are used in celebrations such as St. Patricks Day Parades as the leading body of the Irish armed forces and act as Flag Bearers. They also perform ceremonial funeral duties. Israel The ''Heyl HaMishtara HaTzva'it '' ("Military Police Force") is the military police of the Israel Defense Forces . It also helps monitor prisons, both those containing Israeli soldiers and Palestinian detainees. Italy The '' Carabinieri '' is a gendarmerie force which acts as both the military police and one of the three national police forces in Italy . The '' Guardia Di Finanza '' also has some military police duties. Japan During World War II , the '' Kempeitai '' were the military police of the Imperial Japanese Army and the '' Tokeitai '' were the military police of the Imperial Japanese Navy . They also performed Intelligence and Secret Police functions and were active in Japan and its occupied territories. The Japan Self-Defense Forces maintain military police units. Malaysia The '' Kor Polis Tentera DiRaja '' (Royal Military Police Corps) performs military police duties in the Malaysian Army . Apart from enforcing discipline and conduct of members of the Army, the Corps oversees security of designated Army installations, performs escort and ceremonial duties, and assists civil law enforcement authorities. The ''Kor Polis Tentera'' is also tasked with crime prevention and investigating criminal activities on Army property or by military personnel. With its roots in the British Royal Military Police , members of the ''Kor Polis Tentera DiRaja'' also wear the distinctive red peaked cap, white lanyard and belt, as well as a black Brassard with the letters "PT" imprinted. NATO Evolution of Military Policing During the Cold War the approach of NATO to military policing was to provide Military Police support to National Forces in terms ofRMP Journal April 2007: Traffic Control, Military Security, and Law & Order. Post cold war, this has now evolved into: Mobility Support, Security, Policing, and Detention. Approaches to military policing within NATO There are generally three types of military police within NATO Forces
Netherlands In the Netherlands , the function of military police is performed by the '' Koninklijke Marechaussee '' ("Royal Constabulary"), a separate branch of the Military independent of the Army , Navy and Air Force . Besides performing military duties, the ''Marechaussee'' is also a gendarmerie force. The word '' Marechaussee '' seems to derive from the old French name ''Marecheaux'' given to an ancient court of justice in Paris called the "Tribunal of Constables and Marshals of France". These constables and marshals were to become members of the Gendarmerie which served as a model for the police forces of both Belgium and the Netherlands. The term ''Marechaussee'' was also used for the Continental Army 's military police during the American Revolution . New Zealand In the New Zealand Army , the Corps Of Royal New Zealand Military Police only recruits internally, with applications only being accepted from personnel who have served for at least two years. MPs may be either career soldiers or from the Territorial Army (part-time soldiers). The Royal New Zealand Air Force recruits directly for Air Security Guards , who carry out military police functions and are responsible for providing security as well as ground defence training and drill/ceremonial training for other RNZAF Staff. The Royal New Zealand Navy , like the Army, does not recruit directly into their "police" branch. Instead, personnel of a certain rank and time-in-service may apply for the Master-At-Arms trade. Security of shore bases is the responsibility of New Zealand Defence Force civilian security personnel. At all NZDF facilities, civilian staff are used to augment military police manpower, particularly for relatively simple tasks like ID checking and security patrols. This allows the MPs to concentrate on the more complex and specialised tasks within their areas of responsibility, such as criminal investigation. Many former servicemen and women find employment as Civil Security Guards at NZDF establishments and this helps keep their expertise in-house. Norway In Norway , military police are service members of the Norwegian Army , Royal Norwegian Navy or Royal Norwegian Air Force . Since about 2002, all are trained at Sessvollmoen Camp . MPs in the Army are assigned to the Military Police Battalion, located at Bardufoss, Troms county. The current Battalion commander is Lieutenant Colonel Vidar Gade. The battalion consists of approximately 50 officers and NCOs, and 150 privates and corporals. Norwegian MPs first go through a six-month selection/educational period, before being assigned to the battalion or to regimental duties with other units for the remainder of their twelve-month service. Norwegian MPs do not have authority over civilians, except on military installations or under Martial Law . They do have authority over military personnel anywhere, including when such personnel are off duty. The ''Heimevernet'' ("Home Guard") also has MPs in its ranks. Usually each District (regiment) has one or two platoons, consisting exclusively of former regular or conscript military police personnel. Norwegian MPs wear a red beret and a red lanyard around the left shoulder extending to the left front pocket. Only personnel currently serving as MPs are allowed to wear this. When on official duty, they also wear the MP armband, which is black with "MP" in red letters. It was previously worn on the right shoulder, but is now worn on the left shoulder, following NATO practice. They can also wear white webbing, or a number of items for special duties, like high visibility vests for traffic duty etc. Army canine units are also assigned to the MP battalion, but the personnel in such units are not necessarily MPs. Such personnel do not hold military police authority, and do not wear the MP insignia. MPs have no power over civilians except inside military installations. More serious cases, like narcotics, are handed over to civilian police for investigation. Portugal In Portugal , each branch of the armed forces has its own military police force. The Portuguese Navy has the ''Polícia Naval'' (Naval Police), the Portuguese Army has the '' Polícia Do Exército '' (Army Police), and the Portuguese Air Force has the '' Polícia Aérea '' (Air Police). The Air Police is an Arm of its own inside the Air Force, but the Army Police is only a speciality of the Cavalry Arm and the Naval Police is a speciality of the Marines Arm. The Navy also has a civil police force, the ''Polícia dos Estabelecimentos da Marinha'' (Navy Facilities Police), with the responsibility of guarding the Lisbon Naval Base and some other naval facilities. of the Romanian Military Police]] Romania In Romania , the Romanian Military Police (''Poliţia Militară'') serves as the military police of the Romanian Army . It usually handles military security and military crimes and it has national jurisdiction. The romanian military police is organized in one battalion (headquertered in Bucharest ) and other three local companies. Serbia The Gendarmerie are the official Military Police force in Serbia . Military Police force are one of the best qualified and most combat-prepared organizations within the Army. Military Police responsibilities include combating special forces of the enemy and counter-rebellion and counter terrorist actions, stamping out organized crime and corruption, securing people and facilities, search actions, anti-terrorist tasks, and others. Specific training is provided for members of special units of the Military Police, as well as for for members of "general" and traffic Military Police. Drills for Military Police units, from squad to battalion, are based on their anticipated tactical employment, including the training in putting down civil disorder. The Security Directorate of the General Staff of the Army Of Serbia is responsible for overseeing the units of the Military Police. Sri Lanka Each of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces has its own military police/Provost branch. The Sri Lanka Army is policed by the Sri Lanka Corps Of Military Police and by Regimental Police , who belong to each individual Regiment s or Corps . The Military Police force carries out the following missions:
The Sri Lanka Navy is policed by the Provost Branch . The Sri Lanka Air Force is policed by the Air Force Police (Sri Lanka) (AFP). Singapore In Singapore , the Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command serves as the military police unit of the Singapore Armed Forces , and supports the Singapore Police Force by way of collaborations, such as in the co-location of dog-training facilities for policing duties. The Unit is sub-divided into the Active Provost Company (including the ceremonial and drill squad), the Zone Provost Company (responsible for apprehending AWOL personnel) , the Detention Barracks, The Special Investigations Branch, the Security Branch and the Dog Wing. Thailand In Thailand , each branch of the armed forces has its own military police force. The Royal Thai Navy has the ''สารวัตรทหารเรือ'' (Naval Military Police) , the Royal Thai Army has the ''สารวัตรทหาร'' (Army Military Police), and the Royal Thai Air force has the ''สารวัตรทหารอากาศ'' (Air Force Military Police). Air Military Police Department ''กรมทหารสารวัตรทหารอากาศ'' Retaining the peaceful situatiions, securing, regulating the traffic discipline within the Air Force installations and housing area, tackling illegal objects including deserted officers and runaway accusers, escorting the VIPs, investigating crime which is under the authority of Military Court. This investtigation includes the prisoners of war, enemy alien, refugee, displaced officers within the Air Force and designted area. It is under supervision of the Commander of the Air Military Police Department. |
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