New inspectorate for service police.

[wasteofrations2]

It might help if Service Police were actually recognised by the Home Office as Police.

 

[RangdoOfArg]

It might help if Service Police were actually recognised by the Home Office as Police.

And therein lies the problem..

 

[bob_the_bomb]

The interesting bit will be who is appointed. In theory, noone with military connections, but in practice?

Someone from the RAF?

If of course nobody from the Dagenham Girl Pipers is available...

 

[BossHogg]

Will the Service Police start obeying PACE?

I followed it to the letter back in the day, mind you, in 1986 I was one of the first squads at RMPTC to be trained in the new procedures.

 

[bob_the_bomb]

I followed it to the letter back in the day, mind you, in 1986 I was one of the first squads at RMPTC to be trained in the new procedures.

Wasn’t that because phone books were harder to come by then?

 

[BossHogg]

I couldn't possibly comment.

 

[wasteofrations2]

And therein lies the problem..

Some of the best RMP I have known were reserves. Some of them were actual, real coppers in their day jobs, so they knew how to do Police stuff.

 

[RangdoOfArg]

I followed it to the letter back in the day, mind you, in 1986 I was one of the first squads at RMPTC to be trained in the new procedures.

As @wetsmonkey said, SPCOP have been in place for a very long time. They mirror PACE almost word for word. The procedural bits slightly change, that’s it.

 

[RangdoOfArg]

Some of the best RMP I have known were reserves. Some of them were actual, real coppers in their day jobs, so they knew how to do Police stuff.

In the last 10 years or so, that is true. Why the heck you would shuck one skin oft for another is beyond me, but these people bring a lot of experience to the RMP.
One of the issues highlighted in the OP is the skill fade in specialist investigations. With the demise in BFG, SIB have nowhere to go, professionally.
RMP are an organisation seeking a purpose. And they don’t have a policing purpose.

 

[Ninja_Turtle]

In the last 10 years or so, that is true. Why the heck you would shuck one skin oft for another is beyond me, but these people bring a lot of experience to the RMP.
One of the issues highlighted in the OP is the skill fade in specialist investigations. With the demise in BFG, SIB have nowhere to go, professionally.
RMP are an organisation seeking a purpose. And they don’t have a policing purpose.

I’d argue we still do. Garrison policing was always the way to maintain currency to police on ops, rather than an end in itself.
Despite no big ops going on, the British Army is significantly committed around the world, and all of those personnel fall under RMP jurisdiction.

I’ve re-read the OP and can’t see the para about skill fade, however I can most certainly say that this is not the case, although I can only really speak for the more serious and complex side of the house. My Company was incredibly busy, and legacy cases still rear their heads.

SIB are all home office trained and accredited, having to document currency and competence in line with the various requirements. For example my DI course had to be accompanied by a portfolio of meeting the various occupational standards to be awarded the accreditation.

The Service Justice Review suggested, and explored the notion of a ‘quad service’ serious crime unit, a joint SIB/CID which is still on the table.
I’m not going to get too embroiled in discussion in case I say something that isn’t in the public domain, but just because you don’t see us, doesn’t mean we’re not busy.

Service Justice System review

In 2017, the Ministry of Defence commissioned a review of the Service Justice System in preparation for the next Armed Forces Bill.

www.gov.uk

 

[dingerr]

I just wonder if they'll be referred to as "Monkey Kings?"

Gorilla squad.

 

[bob_the_bomb]

Gorilla squad.

The Banana Bunch?

They’ve already got a regimental march:

 

[BossHogg]

As @wetsmonkey said, SPCOP have been in place for a very long time. They mirror PACE almost word for word. The procedural bits slightly change, that’s it.

I know all about SPCOP, we did use them in the olden days.

 

[Ninja_Turtle]

Better late than never, IMO. For the main topic, that is. Won‘t help those who still seek justice for cases closed (unless I missed that bit).
This is just a layer added to prolong the life of the Service Police.

Home - Centre for Military Justice

centreformilitaryjustice.org.uk

Reading between the lines, this has been done in response to a petition by this firm. They represent the deep cut families and a small number of victims of sexual offences.
As I alluded to in an earlier post, hopefully this will draw a line under it.

The people who staff this company aren’t friends of the military, some of whom have come from Leigh day, so the optimist in me hopes that they are out for justice...