About the Royal Navy Police
The RNP is the service police branch of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. They provide a wide-ranging policing and investigative service to the Royal Navy at home and abroad. This includes:
- a global reach criminal investigation capability;
- operational detention in the maritime environment; and
- the exploitation of evidence at sea.
The RNP has three sections:
- Regional Naval Provost Marshals (NPM) who operate at three UK ports;
- the RNP who operate in the larger ships of the RN fleet; and
- the RNP Special Investigation Branch (SIB). The RNP SIB conduct investigations into criminal and disciplinary offences committed by Service personnel and certain civilians subject to the Armed Forces Act 2006.
HMICFRS’s role in inspection this force
HMICFRS has a statutory duty to inspect and report to the Secretary of State. We report on the independence and effectiveness of investigations carried out by each of the service police forces, including the Royal Military Police, under the Armed Forces Act 2011.
