Defence College of Policing and Guarding

Defence College of Policing and Guarding
Defence College of Policing and Guarding
Active	2005 – Present
Country	United Kingdom
Type	Training
Role	Training
Garrison/HQ	Southwick Park

The Defence College of Policing and Guarding is the training centre for the Service Police of the British Armed Forces. The centre was established at Southwick Park, near Portsmouth, Hampshire, in 2005 and consolidates training for the Royal Navy Police, Royal Military Police and Royal Air Force Police in a single location, assuring consistent standards across the service.

The College was opened in 2005 at Southwick House, the former site of HMS Dryad. The regimental headquarters of the Royal Military Police also moved to the site following withdrawal from Roussillon Barracks, Chichester. RAF Police training moved from RAF Halton in 2005. Royal Navy Police training moved from HMS Excellent in November 2005.

Training is accredited by the University of Teesside and is validated by the National Policing Improvement Agency who assure standards on behalf of the Home Office.

The facilities allow training in most aspects of policing, including Crime Scene Investigation.

Soldiers entering the Royal Military Police are posted to the college having completed Phase 1 training at the Army Training Centre, Pirbright. Successful completion results in promotion to lance corporal and posting to an operational unit as a probationer. Officers for the Royal Military Police undertake training on completion of commissioning courses at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.