253 Provost Company

253 Provost Company Royal Military Police (Volunteers), often shortened to 253 Pro Coy RMP(V), is a Territorial Army Group A minor unit consisting of a headquarters and two platoons, based in London SW2. Following the recent Defence review, the company is also due to set up a platoon detachment at Southampton. 253 is affiliated to the Guild of Freemen of the City of London. Amongst other training and tasks the Company regularly provides personnel in support of the City of London Police for the annual Lord Mayors Show.

4 Regiment RMP

The company is part of 4 Regiment Royal Military Police (a combined TA/regular unit with a headquarters and regular company in Aldershot and companies in West Bromwich as well as in London. 4RMP forms the military police component of 101 Logistic Brigade.

Recruitment and training

Personnel can join the unit straight from being a civilian following successful completion of the company’s recruit selection process. Selection weekends take place around four times annually. Volunteer Transfers who are trained soldiers in other corps as ex regulars or TA members can also join the unit and carry out a reduced trade training package which qualifies them as Military Police men and women.

When on duty, members of the unit can work alongside NCO’s of the regular Royal Military Police. You do not need to be a civilian law enforcement officer to join the unit, but the company does attract a large number of civilian police, immigration and customs officers.

Unit members are used to assist regular RMP units on operational deployments and garrison policing duties when required.4 RMP regulars and reserves train together on occasion as a two week exercise in Sennelage, Germany in 2006 demonstrated where members of 253 Provost Company undertook ranges, an operational policing exercise and adventure training to improve their capabilities.

External links

* [http://www.reserve-forces-london.org.uk/Units/1007/about.htm| Reserve Forces London (253 Pro Coy RMP(V))]

References