Admiralty Police Questions

[billy4294]

Good Morning,
I'm looking for some information on the Admiralty Police, as follows.

When were they formed?

Where did they operate? (I know they were the overseas counterpart to their Constabulary namesake)

Do they still exist?

Did they recruit from the indigenous population?

Where did their powers derive from?

Thank you.

Billyh

[manchesters]

try this

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiralty_Constabulary

[billy4294]

Thanks Simon,
I'm looking for information on the Admiralty Police, whom I believe we're the overseas counterpart of the Admiralty Constabulary.

Billyh

[leigh kitchen]

Are any of these forces listed in the index the one/ones you're seeking info on?

[billy4294]

Yes. I think it would be the Admiralty Police, Mauritius. A short lived force by the looks of it. Cap badge was similar to Admiralty Constabulary, but with 'Police' in place of Constabulary.

Billyh

[leigh kitchen]

Admiralty Police Mauritius 1961-1976.

The Admiralty Police began it's life on 1 June 1961, with the assigned task of policing three widely dispersed Ministry of Defence (Navy) stations on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.
Authority was given for the creation of the Admiralty Police in an Admiralty letter CEIV/CE50313/59 dated 4 August 1959, with a provisional complement of one Inspector, four Sergeants and 25 Constables for the policing of the three sites of HMS Mauritius and the adjacent accommodation area at Vacoas. The Force had to be created without any police powers because of local opposition to the use of the Mauritius Police or Special Constables on these duties, and the political inexpediency of introducing legislation to afford police powers to the new Force. It was not until independence and the implementation of certain provisions of the 1968 "Agreement of Mutual Defence and Assistance" between the United Kingdom and Mauritius Governments that this sorry state of affairs was rectified and the necessary police powers given.
On 1 June, 1961, the Force began it's life under the command of Inspector G.L LeCORDIER, an ex- Detective Inspector of the Mauritius Police, whose terms of reference were to recruit the necessary manpower to achieve the initial authorised complement. Men were recruited from the local population and consisted of Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Tamils and Creoles. The Commissioner of the Mauritius Police was consulted and took an active part in selecting the candidates, many of them were already Special Constables. The men were subsequently given seven weeks training at the Island Force's training School and Headquarters of the Special Mobiles Force- para military arm of the police.
In July 1961, an increase of 22 men was recommended, together with the introduction of six dogs, two landrovers and six portable VHF radio sets.. The Force was further increased at intervals until the final level of one Chief Inspector, one Inspector, nine Sergeants (including one Detective Sergeant) and 51 Constables was achieved. Additionally the dog holding was increased to fourteen and portable radio equipment to nine portable and two vehicle sets.
During the period 1964 to 1976, the Chief Officer was seconded form the parent United Kingdom Force (Admiralty Constabulary/Ministry of Defence Police) in the rank of Chief Inspector. The initial appointment was made because it was considered that the locally engaged Chief Officer was not achieving the required level of professionalism in matters of administration and advice to the Naval authorities. During this period seven different officers were seconded.
On the 12 March 1968, Mauritius was granted independence and became an independent State within the Commonwealth. With this came an "Agreement on Mutual Defence Assistance" between the two Governments. The implementation of the 'Agreement was of particular significance to the Admiralty Police for it introduced measures to be taken for the protection of service establishments and included the power to create a civil police force for the policing of establishments. The Agreement', which Incorporated Section 17 of the Visiting Forces (Mauritius) Act 1968, was to place the Admiralty Police on a firm legal footing it had not previously enjoyed, with the same powers and privileges of the Mauritius Police.
During March 1975, the United Kingdom Government announced it's firm intention of withdrawing from Mauritius at the end of March 1976. During this time the Force was gradually run down and on Thursday, 8 April, 1976, the whole withdrawal plan was completed and the Admiralty Police, Mauritius, officially disbanded.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by billy4294

Thanks Simon,
I'm looking for information on the Admiralty Police, whom I believe we're the overseas counterpart of the Admiralty Constabulary.

Billyh

Found mentions of Mauritius and Malta .

Collection of Obsolete Admiralty, Airforce Dept, Air Ministry, Police Badges

Admiralty Police Mauritius

https://bid.candtauctions.co.uk/lot-...omp%26page%3D2

Admiralty police and fire services abroad: standardisation of badges of rank.

Includes 3 photographs depicting: (1) Admiralty Police, Malta: cap badge (2) Naval Police Force, Singapore: cap badge. Dated 1958-1960.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/C4848033


Also an old thread :

Admiralty Police Badges



.

[billy4294]

Thanks Leigh, excellent information. Thanks to you too Mike.

Billyh

[leigh kitchen]

All info from “Badges, Insignia and Uniforms of the Admiralty, Army & Air Force Raised Police Forces (Overseas) Including Sovereign Base Areas Police Cyprus” by Harry and Joyce Wynne.