The Royal Military Police (RMP) is the corps of the British Army responsible for the policing of army service personnel, and for providing a military police presence both in the UK and while service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises. Members of the RMP are often known as ‘Redcaps’ because of the scarlet covers on their peaked caps, or scarlet coloured berets.
The RMP origins can be traced back to the 13th Century but it was not until 1877 that a regular corps of military police was formed, with the creation of the Military Mounted Police (MMP). This was followed by the Military Foot Police (MFP) in 1885. Although technically two independent corps, the two effectively functioned as a single organisation. In 1926, they were fully amalgamated to form the Corps of Military Police (CMP). In recognition of their service in the Second World War, they became the Corps of Royal Military Police (RMP) on 28 November 1946.
On 6 April 1992 the RMP amalgamated into the Adjutant General’s Corps (AGC), under whose overall command they form part of the AGC’s Provost Branch.
Non-commissioned members of the RMP receive their basic training as soldiers, at the Army Training Centre (ATC) in Pirbright. They then receive further training at the Defence School of Policing and Guarding (DSPG), previously known as Defence College of Policing and Guarding (DCPG). RMP commissioned officers are trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, as are all other British Army officers.
The regimental march of the RMP is “The Watchtower” or “Hoch Heidecksburg” originally a German Army marching tune from 1912 by Rudolf Herzer. The RMP motto is Exemplo Ducemus, Latin for “By example, shall we lead”.
History
Main article: History of the Royal Military Police
The Provost Marshal is a post which goes back to the 13th century and was originally an under-officer of the Earl Marshal. In 1685 the role of Provost Marshal General became a permanent post. The Military Mounted Police was formed in 1877 and the Military Foot Police was formed in 1885
During the First World War the Military Police grew from 508 all ranks to over 25,000 all ranks by the end of the War.During the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 the Military Police served the Army as a whole rather than just individual units.
On 27 February 1926 the Corps of Military Police was formed by merging the Military Mounted Police and the Military Foot Police.
During the Second World War the Military Police grew from 4,121 all ranks to over 50,000 all ranks within six major branches of specialists:
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