Royal Auxiliary Air Force (Police)
No 3 (Tactical) Police Squadron (TPS) is based at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire as an integral part of the Tactical Provost Wing (TPW).
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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