History
The Royal Navy has always, in one way or another, had the need to maintain order and discipline. When at sea, historically, the Captain was the king's representative, his rule was kept by the First Lieutenant who was assisted by a person known as thee Ship's Marshal, who was supported by a number of Ship's Corporals. Ship's Marshals were abolished and replaced by the Master At Arms (M.A.A.) rate, which was introduced in about 1699. A tradition that continues right up to the present day.
On punishment day, at six bells in the forenoon watch, the order was given,"All hands to witness punishment". The master at arms presented the offender to the Captain who questioned him about the offence and then delivered a verdict. The officer of the offender's division was asked if he had anything to say in mitigation. If their reply did not satisfy the Captain, he ordered the man's punishment. Other than the actual act of flogging; the M.A.A. was responsible for ensuring that any punishment awarded was carried out. The M.A.A. was also accountable to the Lieutenant at Arms for the duties of the Ship's Corporals, the supervision of sentries, the Guard, and training the ship's company in the use of small arms. Another duty that the M.A.A performed was, at around 9pm to patrol the ship and check that all lanterns and fires were out, and that no men were intoxicated. Probably an early form of evening rounds.
In September 1944, the Admiralty concluded that the organisation for the maintenance of discipline on shore in the main naval port areas was unsatisfactory. Colonel D H C Shepherd (Royal Marines), previously the Naval Provost Marshal in Malta, carried out a study into the requirement for a Naval Provost organisation. He reported that the system of landing ships' patrols in major naval base areas was unsatisfactory because the Petty Officers and Leading Ratings in charge, (however well briefed) lacked the knowledge and experience to deal with incidents, and being unable to render lucid written reports, avoided taking action wherever possible. The men detailed for patrol disliked the duty intensely believing it to be a form of punishment.
The Shepherd report recommended the introduction of a Leading Patrolman rating to become the junior member of the Regulation Branch and borne primarily for provost duties, and the creation of a Provost organisation to operate within the major naval port areas. Admiralty Fleet Order 6681/44 of 21 December 1944 implemented the proposals of the Shepherd report.
As a result of the Shepherd report, Regulating Branch training, which hitherto had been carried out in the barracks of the main ports, was centralised. In 1945, a Royal Navy Regulating School was established at Beechwood Camp in Devon to train all regulating ratings and to maintain branch records. In 1946, the school moved to Fort Wallington near Portsmouth, then in 1947 to HMS Cicero in Essex, then in 1948 to HMS Excellent where it remained until November 2005. Initially, the role of the Leading Patrolman was to augment patrols on shore, and assist in regulating duties as necessary. In 1968 Leading Patrolmen were renamed Leading Regulators.
In 2007 the Royal Navy Regulating Branch was renamed the Royal Navy Police in a change brought about by the Armed Forces Act 2006.
Read more about this topic: Royal Navy Police
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