The Royal Australian Corps of Military Police (RACMP)
The Military Policeman of Today
What does the Military Police do?
The Royal Australian Corps of Military Police (RACMP) is the Army’s police force who provide policing and investigation support to the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) during times of war and peace.
The role of the RACMP is to support The Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in policing, investigating and protecting members and visitors of the Australian Army and the ADF. RACMP is similar to the civilian police force in that they provide the full range of police duties from the provision of uniformed patrols to deter crime and enforce the law, Close Protection duties, providing 24 hour advice and assistance on policing and security matters, the investigation of offences (the more serious by the Australian Defence Force Investigative Service (ADFIS).
During war or peace enforcement operations the RACMP provide essential support of route marking and reconnaissance, signing, POW/detainee handling and security, VIP protection, processing of Displaced Persons, protection of HQ and staff, maintenance of morale and discipline (policing of troops), manning a Corrective facility, physical security and investigation of breaches to criminal/military law and other duties as required.
Because the Army recruits from every part of society, the types of crime dealt with by the RACMP are the same as those handled by their civilian counterparts, although, there is an important difference in that the RACMP police a smaller, far more disciplined population, aged in the main between 18 and 27 years. Similarly, re-offence is minimal because, following conviction by a court martial for a serious crime, the offender is usually expelled from the Army.
What does ADFIS stand for?
ADFIS stands for the ‘Australian Defence Force Investigative Service’, the section of the RACMP which specialises in the investigation of the more serious and complicated military criminal and non-criminal offences.
ADFIS is the equivalent of any civil police detective department often referred to as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Just like the CID, ADFIS investigators usually work in plain clothes and their role is to investigate and detect the more serious crimes committed against or by Army personnel. That means gathering evidence to support the prosecution or Defence personnel mainly Army who, have broken civil and/or military laws. ADFIS also investigates serious non-criminal matters such as the leaking of confidential information, unacceptable behaviour standards and other matters as directed by Army HQ.
What’s an average day like for an ADFIS MP?
Each day will present new challenges, but typically an ADFIS MP will be working on between five and ten cases at any one time. A "case" can last from one day to two years. Preparing a case file and conducting an investigation will involve the following: forensic, collating and preparing evidence, preparing and holding interviews with witnesses and suspects, transcription of taped interviews, updating the Army’s version of the Police National Computer, writing reports and attending the Australian Military Court or unit "orderly rooms" to give evidence.
Join the Australian Military Police
RACMP "Tasks"