A team of RAF Police and
their military working dogs from RAF Lyneham will carry out a sponsored march in aide of Help for Heroes
and Children’s Hospice South West charities on 19 March 2011.
Starting at 0030, the
team will leave the new Help 4 Heroes Personal Recovery Centre, Tedworth House
in Tidworth, and follow a designated route, reaching Wootton Bassett at
approximately 0830, before finally completing the march at RAF Lyneham’s Dog
Section. Both the dogs and the RAF Police will need to be physically fit to
undertake this arduous task to complete the 37 mile march, with the policemen
carrying a 20kg rucksack and a replica L85 rifle each.
The team are hoping to
raise funds for the two major charities through sponsorship and public donations
along the way. All of the dogs are very friendly and can be approached by the
public on route.
Four of RAF Lyneham’s
Military Working Dogs will march with their handlers; Campbell, a Springer
Spaniel, is a Vehicle Search Dog who can search any type of vehicle; Kontessa, a
Shepherd, is a police dog and carries out very similar duties as civilian police
dogs; Zeus, a Shepherd, is a Patrol Dog who patrols and guards RAF Lyneham and
the Service Families Accommodation; Jack, a black Labrador, is a Drug Detection
Dog.
The RAF Police marching
team include:
Sgt Guy
Wilmshurst
Cpl Gareth
Scutt
Cpl Chris
Archard
Cpl Adele
Roberts
Cpl Gary "Tony"
Blair
Pictures: Cpl Chris Archard and Airdog Campbell,
Cpl 'Tony' Blair and Kontessa.
Photography: RAF/MOD Crown Copyright
2011.
RAF dogs lead the way on charity
march
21 March 2011
|
THREE RAF servicemen, who smuggled at least seven million
cigarettes into the UK through RAF bases at Lyneham and Brize Norton on military
flights, have been jailed.
A joint investigation by HM Revenue and Customs and the
RAF Special Investigations Branch uncovered an operation that evaded £1.2
million in revenue using flights from Afghanistan and Oman during 2008 and 2009.
Cpl Stuart Helens, 31, SAC Paul Garbutt, 31 and Sgt
Stuart Walker, 43, pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to evade duty on
cigarettes smuggled on flights from Oman from July to September 2008. All three
have since been discharged from the RAF.
Cpl Helens, SAC Garbutt, and his brother Christopher
Garbutt, 26 also admitted conspiring to evade duty on cigarettes smuggled on
flights from Afghanistan between December 2008 and May 2009.
At Bristol Crown Court on Friday Helens was jailed for
three years, Paul Garbutt for three years and four months and Walker for two
years. Christopher Garbutt was given suspended sentences of nine and six months
The RAF men bought non-duty paid cigarettes from Muscat and Kabul, while
Christopher Garbutt collected the cigarettes from UK airbase import sheds and
drove them off-site for distribution, the court heard.
Paul Garbutt, his aunt Alison McCabe and his aunt’s
partner Lisa Harrison, a financial advisor at a bank, collectively laundered at
least £95,000 towards the purchase of his home in County Durham. Christopher
Garbutt, laundered cash by converting £13,398.06 into US dollars.
McCabe was given a six-month suspended sentence and
Harrison was handed a 12-month suspended term.
Harrison and Christopher Garbutt were also ordered to do
150 hours of unpaid work.
The smuggling was discovered when RAF Police stopped a
van driven by Helens at RAF Lyneham in April 2009.
Adrian Farley, HMRC Assistant Director Criminal
Investigation, said: "This was a blatant abuse of trust, which required careful
planning to smuggle huge quantities of cigarettes into UK airbases and onto the
UK’s streets.
"Not only did this criminal gang undercut honest
retailers, but, ironically through their actions to evade duty, these airmen
deprived the UK and their fellow servicemen and women of vital public funds."
Confiscation of assets will be sought under the Proceeds
of Crime Act. And a seventh person will be sentenced at a later date.
15:50 GMT, January 12, 2011
Troops from the Tonga Defence Force have deployed
for the first time to southern Afghanistan and commenced security duties
with RAF troops at Camp Bastion in Helmand province.
The Tongan troops from the
Royal Tongan Marines are serving with the Camp Bastion Force Protection
Wing, where they guard the base perimeter and assist with manning the
entry control points.
Flight Sergeant Morgan Price, from the RAF Police,
said: "Camp Bastion is the main logistics hub and airhead for ISAF in
Helmand province. An insurgent attack on Camp Bastion has the potential to
affect operations far beyond the base. It is therefore vital that the
security of Camp Bastion is assured through stringent search measures."
Prior to deploying to
Afghanistan, the Tongan troops undertook an intensive period of training
at RAF Honington in Suffolk. It provided an ideal introduction to working
alongside the RAF Regiment and RAF Police who make up the nucleus of the
Camp Bastion Force Protection Wing.
On arrival in Helmand, the Tongans completed further
training to familiarise them with the conditions at Camp Bastion and hone
their specialist skills. Flight Sergeant Price said:
"I am extremely proud to serve
with the Royal Tongan Marines. It is a testament to their ability to take
on board the search techniques taught that they have already found and
confiscated a number of concealed prohibited items. Their professionalism,
commitment and enthusiasm are second-to-none."
Tongan Royal Marine Lance Corporal Taniela Akauola
said:"I really enjoy working alongside the RAF Police, already we are
working as a good team. Today, I found a sim card hidden in a head
bandage, searching is my favourite, and we can challenge ourselves to see
who can find the most prohibited items."
To mark the start of their duties at Camp Bastion, the
Tongans paraded in front of their National Component Commander, Commander
Satisi Vunipola, and Commander Bastion, Group Captain Guy van den Berg.
At a short ceremony the
Tongan troops sang their national anthem and performed the Sipi Tau, the
traditional Tongan war dance.
Commander Vunipola said: "It is good that, after
training hard, the Royal Tongan Marines are undertaking their duties here
at Camp Bastion as part of the ISAF mission to create a secure and stable
future for the Afghan people."
|
RAF police seize
massive Taliban heroin haul
10 January 2011
RAF Police have seized more than
175kg of deadly heroin from drug smugglers in and around Camp Bastion.
Personnel
from 2 Police Wing and 3 Tactical Police Wing have processed more than 81,000
people at Bastion during their busy six-month deployment and made some alarming
finds – including an unexploded Rocket Propelled Grenade stuck in the side of a
lorry.
The primary role
undertaken by personnel from 2 Police Wing and 3 Tactical Police Wing is the
control of access onto the busy airfield, and to carry out Counter Intelligence
and Influence work alongside Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).
RAF Police Corporal Calum Steele,
22, from RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire, was part of the team who were involved
in discovering the largest individual drugs find. Using state-of-the-art
technology and ‘good old-fashioned Police intuition’, would-be drugs smugglers
were quickly identified.
He said:
“We find that a firm and friendly approach usually gets the best results. Most
of the Afghan contractors, the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and
ourselves know each other now so there’s very little friction. But there’s
always the underlying high threat posed by the insurgents. We appear to be
getting good results with our interpersonal skills and the ability to read body
language.”
The Counter
Intelligence Field Teams (CIFT) and Influence teams are involved in working with
the ANSF to expand the area of security and stability further out from Bastion
Airfield, but they also help mentor the ANSF in policing techniques.
Sergeant Paul Bassenger, from MoD St
Athan, is in charge of the joint shift of RAF Police and USMC Security
personnel. He said: “We’ve processed more than 81,000 people, searched over
36,000 cars and lorries and in that time made over 2,500 drugs finds with a
total weight of 175kg.
We found
an unexploded Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) stuck in the side of a lorry and
when we spoke to the driver he knew that he had driven through an insurgent
attack, but had been too scared to stop before reaching Bastion Airfield to
search his vehicle.”
Sgt
Bassenger and his team have also had to administer first aid to Afghan nationals
who had been shot in roadside attacks by insurgents and also apprehended people
who posed a significant threat to the public outside the perimeter of the
airfield.
Significant
improvements have also been made to the infrastructure leading to a more
efficient system of entry for people getting onto the Airfield. Part of that
redesign enabled the processing of individuals’ identity cards. This technology,
vigilance and ability to read body language has seen many people declined access
to Bastion Airfield and also a number of arrests of people who were on the
wanted list of either the ANSF or ISAF.
Harrier Force Farewell Royal Air Force Cottesmore Rutland
Photographs
Drug-busting in Helmand
Province
FORMER South Somerset
lad, RAF Police Corporal Calum Steele, was part of a team which discovered a
large drugs find during the final few weeks of his tour of duty in Afghanistan.
He discovered the drugs
haul of nearly 6kg as part of an illegal narcotics trade around the RAF-run Camp
Bastion Airfield in Helmand Province where he was based.
“We’ve taken part in
processing over 81 000 people, searched over 36 000 cars and lorries and in that
time and made over 2,500 drugs finds that totalled over 175kg,” he said.
Corporal Steele, who
grew up in Langport, said the state-of-the-art technology employed by the RAF
Police to search and process people and vehicles entering the massive airfield
helped deliver results.
But he said it was also
good old fashion police intuition that spotted something looking ‘dodgy’ with
the behaviour of the would-be drugs smugglers.
“We find that a firm and
friendly approach usually gets the best results,” he said.
“Most of the Afghan
contractors, the ANSF and us knew each other now so there’s little friction.
“There’s always the
underlying high threat posed by the insurgents though. We appear to get good
results with our interpersonal skills and ability to read body language.” 
RAF Police Dogs March to Lyneham
Following
on from the success of last year’s event, a team of RAF Police and their
Military Working Dogs from RAF Lyneham will carry out a sponsored march in aide
of Help for Heroes and Children’s Hospice South West charities on 04 December
2010.
Each team member will carry a 15kg rucksack and a replica
L85 rifle.
They will leave Tedworth House in Tidworth at 0030hrs and
follow a designated route to RAF Lyneham. Tedworth House was chosen as a
starting point because it is the preferred site for the main H4H recovery centre
for Wiltshire. They are hoping to complete the march in a record 10 hours.
They hope to raise money for the 2 major charities
through sponsorship and by collecting donations from the public along the route
during the March.
Any enquiries should be referred to the RAF Lyneham Media
Office
Editor’s Notes
Children’s Hospice South
West provides hospice care to life-limited children and their families
from across the South West; from South Gloucester, Bristol, Somerset, Devon and
Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly. They are the only organisation in this area
to provide such care in a home from home environment. Some families may use the
hospice for many years, often from the time their child is first diagnosed as
having an incurable condition which will mean they will die in childhood. The
whole family may come for planned short breaks throughout the year, emergency
care and end of life care.
Medals of war hero to go on national display
Mr Baker presents the
medals to Group Captain John Whitmell.
By Alex
Keller news reporter
MEDALS
awarded to an heroic ex-serviceman and Royal British Legion stalwart have been presented by the legion's Upper Longdon
branch for display at the RAF Police Museum.
The medals, of the late
Group Captain TEH Grove, are particularly unusual because they include gallantry
and general service medals from both world wars, during service in the Royal Navy
and the Royal Air Force.
Ken Baker, from the
Upper Longdon Branch of the legion, presented them to the museum at a ceremony
at the National Memorial Arboretum near Alrewas.
"It was an honour to
present the medals to the RAF Police Museum and the legion was particularly
pleased that conspicuous service in both the Navy and RAF would continue to be
recognised," said Mr Baker.
Provost Marshal Group
Captain John Whitmell received the medals on behalf of the RAF Police
Museum.
"The RAF Police were
pleased to accept these prestigious medals and that they represented a fantastic
addition to the museum," he said.
"The RAF Police are most
grateful to the British Legion and will ensure that the medals are held in safe
custody for the nation."
The ceremony was
attended Wing Commander Kevin Bailey, director of the RAF Police Museum, and
several members of the British Legion and RAF Police Association.
The medals will now be
displayed at the RAF Police Museum at MOD Southwick Park in
Hampshire.
During World War One,
Group Captain Grove was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1917 while a
midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserve for bravery and resourcefulness on active
service at sea.
In 1938 he joined the
Royal Auxiliary Air Force and at the start of the Second World War he served
with a barrage balloon squadron in France.
He was later mentioned
in dispatches for his heroism during the evacuated from Dunkirk.
Back in England, he
transferred to the RAF Police in September 1940 and served in Scotland and
later the north of England.
While working in
York in 1945 he
was present when a loaded bomber crashed into a row of houses.
Although wounded by
shrapnel, he successfully organised the rescue operation that saved 84
lives.
Subsequently, Group
Captain Grove was awarded the George Medal for his gallant conduct.
After the war he
remained in the RAF Police and served with the Near East Air Force and the
Middle East Air Force.
On retirement he
returned home to Upper Longdon, where he renewed his interest in the Royal
British Legion, becoming the county president from 1950 to 1958 and Midlands
Area president in 1956-57.
After he died on
November 3, 1968, his medals were left to his sister. On her death in 1976, they
were bequeathed to the Longdon Branch of the Royal British Legion.
"It was particularly
appropriate that the medals were presented 60 years after Group Captain Grove
joined the RAF Police," said Wing Commander Bailey.
"These medals are a
tremendous addition to our collection and they will be cherished.
"The medals will form
part of a special exhibit and would ensure that his meritorious service would be
remembered for posterity."
The story of Group Capt Grove by Steve
Davies
Blog - Cpl Dominic Williams
Bristol Man Keeping British
troops safe in Afghanistan
Despite being just 20, Dominic Williams is a Corporal in
the RAF. As an RAF policeman, he helps guard Camp Bastion - the giant UK and US
base in Afghanistan’s desert. He also patrols the surrounding area and helps to
train the Afghan Army. The base is home to some 14,500 British, US and NATO
troops and civilian personnel.
Dominic was brought up in Bristol. His mother Jenny works
in the eye hospital and his father Simon is a central heating engineer. He has a
sister, Charlotte, and a brother, Sebastian.
“Each day you find something different. It’s exciting –
you never know what might happen. I go out on different search patrols,
different compounds, staying overnight before coming back to the base. We patrol
with the Afghan Army and the US Marine Corps.
Dominic’s job is also to work at the main entry point,
searching vehicles, and people, to ensure they are authorised to enter the camp.
Dominic and the team of 40 he works with, part of 1 Force Protection Wing RAF
Police, are Bastion’s first line of defence.
Dominic said the team were a close knit group and despite
the seriousness of his work - there have been suicide bomb attempts at the base
- they manage to keep smiling. Dominic and his team check approximately 150
vehicles and 300 people a day using sniffer dogs and other devices.
An important part of their work is training the Afghan
Army so that ISAF troops can eventually begin to pull back forces.
“Working with the ANA is exciting. Their kit is different
but it’s good to see how they work. You can see they are still learning, but
they have got the best possible training. They have definitely got a bright
future ahead of them.”
Much as he’s enjoying himself, he’s still looking forward
to the end of his tour. “I love being here, but I do miss my family and my
girlfriend.” said Dominic
Commanding Office Mick Smeath, 43, says that Cpl Williams
and all the team had done an “outstanding job” or their tour.
“It’s a privilege to command RAF police and the RAF
Regiment. The RAF in the local villages really are winning the hearts and minds
of the people, and the RAF police are working well with the local population who
are coming on the base to work.”
Dominic arrived in Afghanistan in early December 2009 and
is expected home in late May.
Photography:RAF/MOD
Crown Copyright 2010
RAF dogs patrol London streets
7 Oct
10
Two RAF air dogs who have
served in Afghanistan have gone on patrol with the City of London Police Dog
Unit so that the two forces can learn from each other's
experiences.
Military
working dogs and their civilian police counterparts patrolling the City of
London
[Picture: Corporal Jennie Blunden, Crown
Copyright/MOD 2010]
The meeting came about
as the City of London Police Dog Unit continues a proud history that began 122
years ago in September 1888, when police first attempted to use dogs to aid them
in the detection of crime and the apprehension of criminals.
Today, the dogs are
invaluable in helping to fight crime and recover stolen property - sniffing out
cash, drugs, explosives and firearms.
Taking the RAF on one of
their typical patrol routes were Police Constables Jonathan Bish and Clive
Wilkinson, with their police dogs Oskar, Max and Amber. PC Bish said:
"Oskar is the new kid
on the block. He's already making his mark, having recovered a considerable
quantity of cash and drugs only last week."
Veteran Max, a
seven-year-old German Shepherd, is a general purpose dog, whilst colleague Amber
has a crucial role:
"She's an explosives
expert and will do several hundred searches in the course of a year, from
buildings and cars to suspect packages," PC Bish added. "Lives depend on
Amber's nose being spot on every time."
Police
Constable Clive Wilkinson (left) with police dog Amber and Corporal John Cahill,
RAF, with air dog Buster
[Picture: Corporal Jennie
Blunden, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
Amber rubbed noses with
her opposite number in the RAF, air dog Buster, an arms and explosives search
dog with five operational tours under his collar.
Flight Sergeant Arthur
Sargeant, one of the team responsible for licensing military dogs as ready to
deploy to war zones, said:
"Buster really is
something special. He's shown courage under fire in both Iraq and Afghanistan,
from small arms fire to mortar attack. Each time he stayed calmly by his
handler's side, and after the enemy contact was over he would continue his
job; leading foot patrols, keeping the team safe as he searched for improvised
explosive devices."
Accompanying Buster was
air dog Duke, a vehicle search dog, and his handler Corporal Heather Lacey who
talked of the special bond they have, and the morale boost working dogs provide
for the troops:
"In Iraq, Duke and I
were together for 24-hours-a-day, with him sleeping on the bottom of my
sleeping bag. He flew in C-17 aircraft and Merlin helicopters, as well as
working with the Danish Army and the Household Cavalry. He is also used to
travelling in the back of armoured vehicles with whatever team we are assigned
to."
An assignment in the
City of London was a first for the RAF, and all enjoyed the chance to share
their experiences. Although they may work in very different locations, some
things are the same. The RAF team explained:
Air dog
Buster, an arms and explosives search dog, has five operational tours under his
collar
[Picture: Corporal Jennie Blunden, Crown
Copyright/MOD 2010]
"For a search dog,
this is just their job. For them, a search is a search, whether it is in the
rain at St Paul's Cathedral or in the intense heat of
Afghanistan."
PC Bish commented on the
positive public response to seeing the variety of uniforms and dogs out on the
street:
"At the end of the day
we are a nation of dog lovers, and the public feels reassured that these dogs
are out there helping them."
The City of London
Police introduced a permanent dog section during the 1950s consisting of a small
number of German Shepherd dogs. Today the unit has ten general purpose police
dogs, eight explosive search dogs, five cash, drugs and weapons recovery dogs,
and three passive drugs dogs.
RAF Police dogs provide
an essential force protection component to military operations worldwide. Since
1945, RAF Police dogs have been employed in the protection of airfields and
military assets, the recovery of evidence, public order, the detection of drugs
and anti-terrorist operations.
On an operational front,
RAF Police dogs have served or are currently serving in Singapore, Aden, Hong
Kong, Northern Ireland, the Falkland Islands, Bosnia, Kosovo, Gibraltar, Cyprus,
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Royal Air Force - Be Part of the Story
Tuesday 26th - Friday 29th October
National trials were held at Henlow in
Bedfordshire for RAF Police dogs
The national trials
for RAF police dogs have been held in Bedfordshire.
Dogs and their handlers are put through their paces
during the RAF Police Working Dog UK Trials, held at RAF Henlow over five days.
Competitors have to complete various assault courses and
exercises including finding a hidden intruder within a marked area.
The RAF Police provide patrol and search dog teams for
Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.
2010 winners were Cpl Scutt from RAF Lyneham and his dog
Argin.
Mick Larkman, who is in charge of Military Working Dogs
at RAF Henlow, told BBC Three Counties reporter, Jenna Benson about the dogs.
"If we want a dog for patrol, we want a dog with passion
but control. If the dog is needed for searches, they need to be able to walk on
slippery surfaces.
"Different requirements are needed for different roles,
but it goes for most dogs to say if you treat them with respect they give it
back."
Provost Marshal, Group Captain J W Whitmell said:
"The format has changed
significantly, becoming more operationally focussed, to reflect the changing
role of the RAF Police Dog Team on operations.
"The inclusion of a demanding canine biathlon, enhanced
from last year's event, is a true reflection of the requirement for RAF Police
handlers to be physically fit and to possess the ability to react quickly and
decisively in rapidly changing and pressurised circumstances."
Corporal Robin McIvor – RAF Police
“It’s all about teamwork. That’s the best thing about the
Reserves: you get to be part of a really, really good team that’s doing a very
important job – and have amazing experiences along the way.”
My role
I’m a police patrol officer based in Somerset. A few
years ago, I saw an ad for the RAF Reserves. I felt I wanted to do that bit
extra, so I applied and I’ve been with the Reserves for three years now.
In my role with the RAF Police, I’m based in RAF Henlow
in Bedfordshire. My squadron is part of Tactical Provost Wing and we’re fully
integrated with the regular RAF Police.
I take many elements from my civilian policing to the RAF
Reserves. They work under similar legislation and obviously the experience I’ve
had as a police officer in terms of dealing with people and stressful situations
has been very useful. However, you don’t have to be professionally qualified to
join the RAF Reserves. I had no military background or training, but the good
thing is they give you the training you need to prepare you for what’s ahead.
My experiences
I’ve been to Afghanistan twice, the first time at
Kandahar Air Base where I was involved in air transport security. More recently,
I was mentoring and supporting the Afghan National Police in Gereshk in Helmand.
It was tough but incredibly rewarding.
My life
I’m in my forties now and being able to go out there and
hold my own among young fit blokes is incredibly good for my self-esteem. It’s
also helped me in my civilian police job because it has made me feel I’m capable
of so much more.
RAF
personnel, alongside other ISAF troops, have recently treated several Afghan
nationals at the most successful village medical outreach event held to date for
the local community near Camp Bastion.
The visit was led by the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense
Battalion, United States Marine Corps (USMC), but also comprised RAF Police and
RAF Regiment personnel and elements of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Danish
medical personnel.
Members of 1
Squadron RAF Regiment, normally based at RAF Honington, provided the inner
security cordon for the event whilst the United States Marine Corps provided the
outer cordon.
The ANA also
provided a medic and search capability under the mentorship of the Danish
Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team.
Female RAF Police personnel were used to supplement the
Female Engagement Team (FET) that aims to engage direct with local female
nationals.
Corporals Faye Stinton (left) and
Becky Lockhead, Royal Air Force Police, accompany local females to the village
medical outreach clinic
Having previously engaged with local elders at a shura,
permission was granted by the elders to enter the compounds and treat women and
children.
A United States Marine
Corps doctor accompanied the FET and treated 13 females, two males and 23
children within their compounds.
The male engagement was also highly successful, with 33
males and ten children being treated. A key aspect of the village medical
outreach programme is providing direct medical aid to the local population.
Flight Lieutenant Steve Carroll met
with local elders and chatted through some of the problems facing them. He
said:
"These types of outreach
programmes are crucial in gaining the trust and respect of the local population.
The key to success is undertaking them on their terms and we work hard to
improve our relationship with them.
"Whilst we talked to them about security in their area as
well as health and hygiene, we even found time to talk about the World Cup!"
Medication was provided and
ancillary items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste were given out. In addition,
training in preventative medicine and hygiene was also provided whilst the local
nationals waited to be seen by the doctor.
Corporals Faye Stinton (left) and
Becky Lockhead chat to local children waiting for medical attention at the
village medical outreach clinic
Corporals Faye Stinton and Becky Lockhead of the Tactical
Provost Wing, RAF Henlow, are relatively new arrivals to Bastion and normally
work at the main entry point. This was their first trip into the local community
and they were both slightly nervous prior to 'travelling outside the wire'.
Corporal Stinton said:
"Our role was to escort and search
women and children before they saw the medical staff. The children certainly
were characters and it was great to meet the local nationals."
Lieutenant Snipes, United States
Marine Corps, and Flight Lieutenant Steve Carroll, Royal Air Force Police, hold
a mini-shura prior to the commencement of the village medical outreach clinic
Corporal Lockhead
added:
"Ultimately we are here to
support the local population, and to meet them today and provide medical
attention was very rewarding work.
"The reality of the life of the people here is very
different to what I was expecting; they were courteous, friendly and glad to
receive the medical support that was offered.
"I found the conversations [through the interpreter] amazing
but I hope that one young boy was joking when he gave me the chance to be one of
his future wives!"
Building on
the success of the day, Flight Lieutenant Carroll and his RAF Regiment and RAF
Police colleagues will be participating in similar ventures in other parts of
the local community soon.
He said
the event truly highlighted the ISAF partnership:
"The outreach programme requires co-operation and
partnership from numerous organisations.
"This operation was led by the USMC; however, Afghan
National Army, Danish and Royal Air Force personnel were vital to achieving the
results on the day and highlights the true international approach to supporting
the local population."
Pictures: Squadron Leader Neville Clayton
RAF
RAF Police Set the Scene at Santander
A 13 strong Royal Air Force Police team were the first
working UK military personnel on the scene at Santander in Spain, helping
Service personnel and civilians desperate to make their way home to
Britain.
RAF Police
in High Impact Police Strategy Survey
You would have been
forgiven for thinking that, on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th March, a serious
crime had happened on the “Married Patch”. The area was dominated by RAF Police
personnel from all over the 7 Sqn RAF Police area of responsibility, (AOR).
Fortunately nothing that serious had happened, it was a continuation of a RAF
Police High Impact Policing Strategy Survey (HIPSS) finding out what it was that
was of most concern to Service Families in the Lyneham area. The initiative had
been launched the previous week at RAF Brize Norton, and will continue to roll
out to other Stn’s within the 7 Sqn RAFP AOR (St Mawgan, St Athan, Odiham,
Benson and Northolt). This will then give us, the RAF Police, an unprecedented
picture of what people are really worried about in their home environment.
In keeping with the 7 Sqn RAF Police joined up approach
to policing, RAF Lyneham’s Police men and women were supported by their
colleagues from other 7 Sqn Stations to ensure that the day to day policing
focus at Lyneham was maintained.
The weather was on the side of the Police as RAF
Lyneham’s A/Cpl Matt Allen and newly arrived Cpl Mark Gibbons proceeded to walk
the streets, like a 21st Century version of Dixon of Dock Green, talking to
anyone who was at home. While many of those reading this article will probably
have been questioned, or at least been told about it by their partner, for those
unaware of the purpose of the survey, we were looking into a number of areas
ranging from how you, as the SFA family, perceived crime in the SFA area and
subsequently how you thought it was being dealt with, particularly if you had
been a victim of a crime on the SFA; how aware were you about crime, what caused
you the most distress or worry and what we, as the RAF Police could do to help
improve that situation before moving onto what you perceived the biggest threat
was to the SFA so for example your worries in relation to terrorism or just
bored kids who may stray over the line into Anti-Social Behaviour. Working into
the early evening, in order to question as many people as possible, information
was gathered from the majority of the 800 or so married quarters that make up
the “patch”.
The results of this survey will be collated by the
Project Officer, Fg Off Phil Davidge, who stated that “The HIPSS Operation at
RAF Lyneham proved to be a success with a large percentage of people choosing to
take part in the survey. On the whole residents welcomed the interaction with
the Police, and provided an interesting insight, all of which will prove to be
very beneficial when planning the 7 Sqn RAF policing strategy to address some of
the immediate concerns.”
As OC Police at RAF Lyneham, I would very much like to
echo Fg Off Davidges’ thoughts. It was reassuring to know that Service Personnel
and their families felt safe within their home environment. For many people
living in quarters, this feeling is incredibly important, and even more so when
your partner is deployed Out of Area, knowing that were you live is safe, is one
thing I place great emphasis on and the support provided to the RAF Police at
Lyneham by the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) and in particular PC Jarra Brown
helps us in the fight against crime. You will be reassured to know that we
regularly interact with both the Wiltshire Police and MDP in planned operations
targeting both Anti Social Behaviour and more serious crimes and as RAF Lyneham
draws down, we will continue to provide a full policing service to Lyneham
personnel and their families.
Sqn Ldr James Alford, OC 7 Sqn RAF Police, commented that
"Undertaking co-ordinated Community Policing tasks such as this are a great
opportunity for the RAF Police. They represent the basic principles of Community
Policing - integrating with our local community, meeting the families of our
personnel and understanding the needs of the Station and Service Families. It
enables the RAF Police to see what it is that people want, and allows us, as a
Police Organisation, to respond accordingly.. By conducting similar surveys
across the whole of my Area of Responsibility, through effective and targeted
Community Policing, I can deliver the policing service more efficiently and
effectively".
Should you our your partner ever need Police assistance
you may wish to make a note of the following numbers
PC Jarra Brown 07776493164
RAF Police 01249 896105 (24 hrs)
Wiltshire Police non emergency 0845
087000
Paws on the Front Line: Air Dogs in
Action
From Basrah to Camp Bastion – wherever the Royal Air
Force is deployed there will be some four legged personnel; the Air Dogs of the
RAF Police. Today the RAF Police are the only Service police force to employ
Military Working Dogs (MWDs), deploying them around the World in a variety of
roles, with several dogs currently serving in Afghanistan.
Flight Sergeant Arthur Sargeant holds the post of Provost
Marshals Dog Inspectorate, responsible for the welfare, training, standards and
licensing of all MWDs. “The work undertaken by RAF Police dogs in theatre is
invaluable, and they are considered a key asset for the Commander. Providing
specialist arms explosive search capability and Force Protection, they act as a
Force Multiplier, allowing the Commander greater flexibility with their
personnel. In some situations the MWD team can do the same amount of work as ten
personnel."
For the first time, the three main roles of the MWD team
will be on show to the public in a capability demonstration at this year’s
Crufts. Arthur explained: “The audience will see a scenario where a team of
personnel and dogs will work together to provide a safe working environment for
both the Military and the civilian population in an operational theatre. They
will see our capability in Area Clearance, Vehicle Searching and restoring
public order with a Police Dog team.”
Three Air Dogs have just been awarded a special 'Dogs in
Action' bravery award for their service overseas. Presented by the charity
Wetnose Animal Aid, the award was accepted by Corporal Heather Lacey, who
returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan a few weeks ago. Heather, normally
based at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire, was reunited with Vehicle Search Dog
Duke, a collie cross spaniel, her constant companion during the several months
served in Iraq in 2008. "At Basrah Air Station we were searching everything from
sand trucks to personnel cars and water trucks. We also spent 3 weeks with the
Household Cavalry in the desert, carrying out snap Vehicle Check Points around
the outskirts of the marsh land. Duke and I were together 24 hours a day for
most of the deployment, with him sleeping next to me or on the bottom of my
sleeping bag."
“Being back with Duke is great, he was not only a work
partner but a friend whilst I was away on operations, and no matter what was
going on he was always there for me. I owe him a lot as he kept me safe for my
time on tour. We had to have complete trust as you can't afford to get it wrong
when looking for weapons and explosives” said Heather. “I was out in Afghanistan
as a Vehicle Search Handler with another dog called Dex, who is now having a
rest in Cyprus before coming back to the UK. We were based at Camp Bastion,
searching around over 1000 vehicles a month, working as part of the RAF force
protection element alongside the United States Marine Corps.”
Now 35, Heather joined the RAF in 1997. “The best thing
about the job is knowing that the more you put in, the more the dogs give back
without any questions. They work unconditionally, and whilst you might be having
a bad day, you take your dog out and everything changes as they are always happy
to see you. In Afghanistan the dogs are an added aid in searching as they can
get into places that we can't reach. They can also help to keep everyone safe as
just the presence of a dog can sometimes be enough to deter enemy action.”
Editor: Lesley Woods
Photographer: CPL Dylan Browne RAF
RAF/MOD Crown Copyright
2010.
Wetnose
Bravery Awards for RAF dogs
|
Cpl Heartford and Kubo have been
teamed for three years |
Last week, at a
ceremony in the House of Lords, Royal Air Force Police dogs received a
special 'Dogs In Action' bravery award for their Service in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Presented by the charity Wetnose Animal Aid, the
team of five personnel and three dogs were the only military or police
unit to be recognised.
A Royal Air Force Lyneham-based team collected an
award.
Air Dog, Kubo, and Corporal Damian Heartford have
carried out a multitude of duties.
These have included patrolling the Service Married
Quarter patches and the single living accommodation areas on the Unit, as
well as working at the Royal International Air Tattoo.
Kubo and Cpl Heartford have been teamed for three
years, and during that period they have won the Drissels trophy presented
at the end of a competition for the best RAF Police Dog Team, for the past
two years and were placed second on their first year together.
Air Dog Kubo is a five-year-old, long-haired German
Shepherd, and was bred in the Czech Republic.
On arrival at the Defence Animal Centre (DAC) in
Melton Mowbray, he was assessed and found to be of the high standard
required to become a Police Dog in the Royal Air Force.
Variety of
specialisations
During his time at the DAC he was trained in a wide
variety of specialisations including tracking criminals who had ran away
from the scene of a crime or people who were lost, searching areas for
anything that has been dropped or discarded, searching buildings for
people.
They also deal with public disorder crowd control,
differing scenarios involving the detainment of a fleeing criminal,
carrying out a stand off and when instructed, ceasing any attack.
An RAF spokesperson said, "The Royal Air Force are
the only Service Police force to operate military working dogs. The work
undertaken by RAF Police dogs in theatre is invaluable, and they are
considered a key asset for the Commander.
"They provide specialist arms explosive search
capability and Force Protection; they act as a Force Multiplier, allowing
the Commander greater flexibility with their personnel, whilst delivering
maximum effect on the ground.
"In some situations the dog team can do the same
amount of work as ten personnel." |
News Article
RAF Police dogs honoured
with awards at the House of Lords
5 Mar 10
Royal Air Force Police dogs
have received a special 'Dogs in Action' bravery award for their service in Iraq
and Afghanistan at a ceremony held at the House of Lords on Wednesday 3 March
2010.
The RAF Police dogs team of five personnel
and three dogs was the only military or police unit to be recognised in the
awards presented by the charity Wetnose Animal Aid.
Flight Sergeant Arthur Sargeant, who holds the post of
Provost Marshal's Dog Inspector, responsible for the welfare, training,
standards and licencing of all military working dogs (MWD), said:
"The work undertaken by RAF Police dogs in theatre is
invaluable, and they are considered a key asset for the commander.
"Providing specialist arms explosive search capability
and force protection, they act as a force multiplier, allowing the commander
greater flexibility with their personnel, whilst delivering maximum effect on
the ground.
"In some situations the MWD team can do the same amount
of work as ten personnel."
Accepting the award on behalf of the team was Corporal
Heather Lacey, from RAF Halton, who has herself just returned from
Afghanistan.
She has just been reunited with vehicle search dog Duke,
a collie cross spaniel, who was her constant companion during a tour in
Iraq.
Corporal Lacey said:
"We made several trips to the border as well as
checking vehicles entering Basrah Air Station, searching everything from sand
trucks to personnel cars and water trucks.
"We spent three weeks with the Household Cavalry in the
desert, carrying out snap vehicle checkpoints around the outskirts of the
marshland.
"We lived under cam [camouflage] netting and in
the vehicles, where I would dig down into the sand to find a cool layer under
the vehicles to keep Duke out of the sun.
"Duke and I were together 24-hours-a-day for most of
the deployment, with him sleeping next to me or on the bottom of my sleeping
bag."
Alongside Duke were canine colleagues Kubo, and the
youngest member of the team, arms explosives search dog Billy.
Billy's handler is Corporal Cliff Cullen, from RAF
Northolt, who said:
"Billy is a two-and-a-half year old liver and white
English Springer Spaniel, and I have worked with him since September 2009,
when he came out of training.
"The last four months I have been training him in all
disciplines of arms explosives searching in order for him to get licensed and
become employed here at RAF Northolt."
Billy was a big hit with the guests at the event, who
queued up to meet him:
"Billy is a gentle, loving dog who is very keen to
work", Corporal Cullen continued.
"He is a cheeky little boy who will always do something
that will either make you laugh or cry, but he always produces the goods when
asked to."
RAF Police dogs provide an essential force protection
component to military operations worldwide.
Since 1945, RAF Police dogs have been employed in the
protection of RAF airfields and military assets, the recovery of evidence,
public order, the detection of drugs, and on anti-terrorist operations.
On an operational front, RAF Police dogs have served or
are currently serving in: Singapore, Aden, Hong Kong, Northern Ireland, the
Falkland Islands, Bosnia, Kosovo, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia,
Iraq and Afghanistan.
Elements of the RAF Police can normally be found wherever
the RAF is operating - for example, in Afghanistan, they provide policing and
force protection support to the main operating bases, and they are also involved
in Afghan National Police mentoring, close protection duties and the
Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Task Force.
Surrey Police and RAF join forces to tackle crime
Submitted:
23/02/2005 09:49:45
PC Martin Savage and an RAF police
officer
Officers from the RAF Police will be joining forces with
officers from Surrey Police this summer for a series of operations to tackle
autocrime around Mole Valley’s beauty spots.
The operations are planned from March onwards and will
see an increase in patrols around the areas beauty spot car parks at a time when
there is traditionally an increase in the amount of autocrime. Officers from the
RAF Police based at Headley Court will be joining Surrey Police Officers to help
give an even greater police presence.
The operations are all part of a more joined up approach
between Surrey Police and the RAF to help tackle crime. This new initiative will
see better communication and a greater sharing of intelligence between the two
organisations.
The links with the RAF Police have been forged by Mole
Valley Rural Affairs Officer PC Martin Savage.
PC Savage said:
“The Mole Valley can be very challenging to police
because of how remote so much of the area is. The RAF police already carry out
patrols on a daily basis around the Headley Court base and so it seemed like a
sensible progression to join forces. Not only will they be joining us for the
operation we have planned over the summer but they will also be making regular
stops at the beauty spot car parks on their routine patrols. If they see
anything suspicious when they are out and about then they will note down any
details, such as registration numbers, and immediately pass the information on
to police.
“RAF officers don’t have the same powers of arrest that a
regular police officer has but the additional eyes and ears that they provide
when out on patrol could prove to be an invaluable source of intelligence. They
also drive highly visible marked cars that should provide a powerful deterrent
to any criminals looking to target the Mole Valley.”
He added:
“This partnership is another unique way in which Surrey
Police is keeping the people of Surrey safe and feeling safe and I am very
optimistic about its future.”
An RAF Police Spokesperson said:
"Working together with the local police has improved all
aspects of security and more often than not, has proven successful in crime
prevention in the area. This relationship has made the military more visible in
the community and it is with pride that we can help in keeping both Surrey and
our assets safe from unwanted attention."
For further information please contact the Divisional
Press and Publicity Officer for East Surrey
E-mail: 8688@surrey.pnn.police.uk
The
RAF's Emma Bennion keeps troops safe in Afghanistan
|
|
It's been
described by soldiers as one of the most dangerous tasks in the world -
guarding the gates to the UK's Camp Bastion in Helmand in Afghanistan.
But that's where you'll find 26-year-old RAF
servicewoman Emma Bennion, from Middlewich in Cheshire.
Not only is she charged with keeping troops safe in
the camp, she's helping to mentor and train Afghan soldiers.
On average, Emma and the RAF police Force
Protection team check 150 vehicles a day and up to 300 people.
They use sniffer dogs and other security equipment
to man Camp Bastion's check point one, which stands 1km ahead of the main
gate.
Learning the
language
Corporal Bennion takes it in turns with others to
guard the check point with one other soldier and an Afghan interpreter, to
talk to locals who come onto the base.
She said: "You do try and have a chat with some of
them and learn their language, but in busy periods it's hard to - we do
try to learn a little from the interpreters we have here."
The base is home to some 14,500 British, US and
NATO troops and civilian personnel.
"There are 36 of us out here, doing several
different jobs," said Corporal Bennion.
"Our main role is to provide security for the base,
go out to the local area and talk to the local villagers.
"We provide security for the whole base, we're the
first point of contact, its safety for everyone."
Suicide bomb
attempts
Emma said her team are a close-knit group and
despite a number of suicide bomb attempts at the base - they manage to
keep smiling.
14,500 British, US and NATO
troops and civilians live on the
camp. |
Despite Afghanistan's conservative culture she said
that the gender issue is exaggerated.
"You do get a few strange looks when you walk
through a crowd of locals - but there is no issue," she said.
And although the team are close-knit, Corporal
Bennion does still get homesick for Cheshire.
"I miss friends and family and being able to go
home and just relax. Although you have time off here, there's nowhere to
go. But I like the challenge of being here."
Commanding Officer Mick Smeath, 43, says that Cpl
Bennion and all the team had done an "outstanding job" or their tour.
"The RAF regiment in the local villages really are
winning the hearts and minds of the people, and the RAF police are working
well with the local population who are coming onto the base to work."
The team arrived in early December 2009 and are
expected home in late May 2010. |
Service with honour
Back row, from left: Cpl Gillian
Cartledge, Senior Aircraftman Nigel Butler, Senior Aircraft-woman Leanne
Prinsloo, Senior Aircraftman Steve Rowley and Senior Aircraft-woman Lisa Healy.
Front row, from left: Cpl Emma Proctor, Sqn Ldr Steve O’Hara, Gp Capt Phil Cox,
WO Mick Keane, Lt Craig Macpherson.
Published Date: 27
January 2010
RAF Boulmer
personnel have been honoured at a medal ceremony held in the Officers'
Mess.
Families of the
recipients watched proudly as the Station Commander Group Captain Phil Cox
presented the medals.
An Air
Officer Commanding No 2 Group Commendation was presented to Corporal Emma
Proctor, who is a member of the RAF Police Flight at RAF Boulmer
Female RAF officer learns
what Afghan women want
29 Jan 10
An RAF officer is taking the
lead in a new initiative to reach out to Afghan women living in the
poverty-stricken desert communities near Camp Bastion, the biggest British
military base in Helmand province.
Flight Lieutenant Charlie Mee talking with
an Afghan woman
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD
2010]
Flight Lieutenant 'Charlie' Mee works jointly with
American military personnel from the nearby US base, Camp Leatherneck. She
said:
"For the first time anywhere in Helmand outside the
provincial capital of Lashkar Gah, we're meeting and speaking with ordinary
Afghan women to find out what their concerns are and what help they would like
from us to improve their communities.
"Because of the cultural restrictions Afghan women are
under, it's been impossible for my male predecessors to engage with the
females. Women rarely leave the family compound, let alone their local
village. What I am able to do is meet and talk to the women here in a way
that's not been done before."
Flight Lieutenant Mee, together with some American female
medics and interpreters, recently obtained permission from male village elders
to talk to some of their womenfolk:
"We were allowed inside the privacy of a mud-walled
compound to meet women from a small village," she said. "We asked them about
their health and found out what medical problems they are suffering from so
that we can return soon with the right medicines to treat them.
"We also asked about education and the women said they
wanted it for themselves and their children but that it was their husbands who
must decide.
"The women, who live in the most basic conditions, are
mostly either pregnant or have just given birth. They suffer from irritated
skin and rashes, mild fevers, coughs and colds. Their level of knowledge about
basic personal hygiene and health is incredibly low. They are not even aware
that they need to drink water after childbirth in order to produce breast
milk.
Flight Lieutenant Charlie Mee
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
"These women are providing a good snapshot of the
surrounding area. The important thing now is to come back with the right
medicines and to keep up the engagement process. In future we will try to hold
more small meetings at regular intervals in different locations. Familiar
faces are important - if the women get to know and recognise us, trust will
build up.
"It is vital to engage with the women. Although they're
very restricted in society they hold a lot of sway in their own homes and in
their own small communities. They can influence what the men do and in
particular help form the opinions and actions of the young men of fighting age
who might otherwise be encouraged to join the Taliban."
Flight Lieutenant Mee is based at RAF Wittering, near
Stamford. She deployed to Afghanistan in December for her second six-month tour
of duty in the country.
She is an RAF police officer by trade and joined the
military in 2002. She completed a tour to Basra, Iraq, in 2005 and another to
Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2008, where she helped co-ordinate the training and
development of the Afghan National Police.
Her current job means she regularly meets with local
Afghans - usually male - to find out what they need to make their villages
better and safer. She said:
"Of course, improving the security situation is vital,
but longer term it's about building a successful, prosperous future for these
people so they have the confidence to stand on their own feet, independent of
the Taliban. Ultimately we'd like to provide schools, basic healthcare and
alternative power, all run and maintained under the direction of the local
elders.
"Through building up relationships we also hope to
learn more about this area; who lives here, who the leaders are, how they make
a living, and of course any potential links to the Taliban.
"The most rewarding thing about my job is that I feel
we are making a difference. These people have nothing, but by talking to them
we are finding out what they actually want and helping them to build a
sustainable community. This is more than just charity, it's about providing a
successful future for these women and their families."
RAF police get a good grounding in Boston
Published Date:
13 January 2010
Wednesday, 12pm - ROYAL Air Force police officers have been
getting a taste of life on the beat in Boston.
Two officers joined the town centre's Neighbourhood Policing
Team yesterday (Tuesday) and will do so again today.
The aim is to gain more experience of policing within local
communities.
It is also hoped
the exercise will help develop stronger community links between the two forces.
A spokesman for Lincolnshire
Police said: "We can confirm that our officers are out on patrol with a number
of RAF police officers.
"The activity is for
young-in-service RAF officers, which aims to strengthen community links and
share good practice."
The RAF personnel joined Boston's
officers on an observational basis and do not have any power to police the
town's streets, other than those of an ordinary person.
Previously, Lincolnshire Police and
RAF Police have liased on events such as Remembrance Day and other parades in
the town.
A RAF spokesman said
this week's exercise is just for the two days at the moment but depending on how
successful it is may be repeated again in the future.
Creetown family receive medal in memory of their son who
was killed in action
Dec 25
2009 by Julie Watt, Dumfries Standard Friday
A CREETOWN couple have received a medal in memory of
their son who was killed in action in Iraq.
Sylvia and Rod Shepherd were overcome with pride after
being awarded the Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll in honour of their son
David, who died on May 19, 2003, while serving with the RAF police on Operation
TELIC.
The medal is granted to the next of kin of UK armed
forces personnel who have died on operations or as a result of an act of
terrorism in national recognition of their loss and sacrifice.
Introduced in July, this is the first time the name of a
reigning monarch has been given to a new award since the George Cross was
instituted in 1940 by King George VI.
The medal was given to Mr and Mrs Shepherd and their
daughter Paula at a special presentation by Group Captain John Whitmell, Provost
Marshal (RAF) on behalf of the Queen.
Mr Whitmell said: “Cpl Shepherd was a fine, upstanding
RAF Policeman, who embodied all that is good about the RAF. The loss of Cpl
Shepherd was felt keenly by all his colleagues; however, we remain inspired by
his commitment and sense of duty. He will not be forgotten.”
Proud Mrs Shepherd said: “David was a unique and special
person who can never be replaced; we are, however, immensely proud to have
received this award in his place.
“Although it was a great privilege, we are saddened that
it is one that any parent would not wish to receive in the circumstances.”
Her Majesty The Queen said of the awards: “This seems to
me a right and proper way of showing our enduring debt to those who are killed
while actively protecting what is most dear to us all. The solemn dignity which
we attach to the names of those who have fallen is deeply engrained in our
national character. As a people, we accord this ultimate sacrifice the highest
honour and respect.”
The arms of the Elizabeth Cross bear floral symbols
representing England (Rose), Scotland (Thistle), Northern Ireland (Shamrock) and
Wales (Daffodil). The reverse of the Cross is engraved with the name of the
person in whose memory it is granted.
RAF Police on the Helmand
beat
24 Sep 09
Operating in temperatures
touching 40 degrees and under constant threat of attack from insurgents, the
Helmand beat is one of the toughest police assignments in the world. Report by
Squadron Leader Iain Houghton.
An RAF policeman giving a local Afghan
trader a helping hand at Camp Bastion in Helmand province, Afghanistan
[Picture: SAC Neil Chapman, Crown Copyright/MOD
2009]
RAF Police patrols in the UK-controlled area of southern
Afghanistan might face more danger than their civilian counterparts may ever
encounter but the aim is the same - to bring the rule of law.
The RAF Police anti-intimidation
patrols are a key element of the over-arching International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) strategy to loosen the grip of the Taliban on Afghan
communities.
Based at Camp Bastion, operating as part of the ISAF unit
brought in to mentor the fledgling Afghan National Police force and clamp down
on the endemic corruption that blights many Helmand communities, the RAF team
mount daily patrols into some of the province's most dangerous areas.
Patrol Commander, Sergeant Gareth Stagg, said:
"One of the RAF Police's most important tasks is to get
out and about - we try to build up a relationship with the locals, show them
we are there to help Afghanistan."
When Camp Bastion was carved out of the Afghan desert the
area was unpopulated. But with camps and airfields come business opportunities
and the Afghans have a strong commercial sense.
A local community is forming in the area around the camp
to service its needs and bringing with it a challenge for the RAF Police
patrols.
The police call it a village but that's not accurate, it
is a group of dwellings and businesses clinging to existence in a way that is
difficult to comprehend.
RAF Police with American ISAF counterparts
at Camp Bastion
[Picture: SAC Neil Chapman, Crown
Copyright/MOD 2009]
But it is commerce and it is peaceful, thanks in part to
the RAF Police's work.
Sergeant Stagg is doing the work of an old-fashioned beat
bobby, getting to know the locals, talking to them, making them feel safe - with
an armed patrol providing cover around him. He said:
"We try to gain the confidence of the locals and hope
in return they'll help us. These are very kind people, working away from home,
trying to make money for their families."
On a recent patrol, a civilian vehicle approached and got
too close for comfort. Sergeant Ian Young said:
"I had to get it to stop - we did not know who the
driver was and the risk of a suicide bomber is very real."
Most locals understand what to do and the car pulls to
one side away from the patrol. It is a timely reminder that this is Afghanistan
- a violent place.
As the patrol heads home, the day's last stop is at the
local market. As Sergeant Stagg walks to the door with his helmet under his arm
he spots two Afghans armed with Kalashnikovs.
He makes a quick radio call to the rest of the patrol so
there are no misunderstandings as he has recognised the armed men - two local
security contractors who have come in to shop.
A familiar ritual follows - sit, talk, be offered and
accept a drink - but here Sergeant Stagg makes a more material contribution to
the rebuilding of Afghanistan.
He buys a case of soft drinks for the patrol for their
return to base - a small gesture, but probably one of the ways the hearts
and minds campaign for Afghanistan will be won.
This article is taken from the 11
September 2009 edition of RAF News - Voice of the Royal Air
Force.
RAFP NCO Wounded In
Afghanistan
A LIGHT
glinting in the trees warned Corporal Gareth Hughes that something was about to
happen.
As he turned to alert the commander of his
night patrol, Taliban insurgents opened fire. Within seconds the 25-year-old was
hit. But believing the bullet had only struck his body armour, Cpl Hughes pushed
forward and fired back. As the searing pain intensified, the former Ecclesbourne
School pupil looked down and saw blood coming from a wound in his stomach. "You
develop a sixth sense about when things are going to happen and always have to
be prepared. When I saw a light in the trees ahead I just knew," said Cpl
Hughes. "The insurgents were about 40m away and I was hit within seconds. "I
felt the hit, but initially thought it had just struck my body armour so carried
on firing. It felt hot and like I had been kicked in the ribs – then I saw the
blood. I shouted for help and tried to stem the bleeding with my own hand. "To
be honest the main thing I felt was relief, relief I could still move my arms
and my legs and relief about the fact that I was still breathing."
With bullets still flying, Cpl Hughes was
pulled to a nearby checkpoint where he was treated until a helicopter arrived to
fly him to Camp Bastion in Helmand Province for treatment. The bullet hit Cpl
Hughes at the bottom of his back before skimming his ribs and coming out the
other side of his body – missing his internal organs by just centimetres. But
doctors feared the worst and to be sure there was no internal bleeding or
lasting damage surgeons performed an exploratory laparoscopy – an internal
examination done by making a 25cm long cut into Cpl Hughes' chest so they could
look inside. He said: "Luckily there was no damage to any of my internal organs
but it could have been a completely different story. The round missed my
kidneys, liver and lungs by a matter of centimetres. "I know I am one of the
lucky ones. There is no lasting damage and the only signs left are the three
scars on my body."
Cpl Hughes is in the RAF police and was on a
voluntary six-month tour of duty when he was injured on July 4. His role is to
train Afghan police in the war-torn country, and on the day of the incident Cpl
Hughes was working alongside Afghan officers and the Light Dragoons, who were
clearing an area in Babaji, as part of Operation Panther's Claw. Hooked up to
various drips and on strong painkillers, Cpl Hughes was flown from Camp Bastion
to Birmingham and taken to Selly Oak Hospital. He was discharged on Sunday and
returned home to Chaddesden, where he has been recovering. Cpl Hughes said:
"There were lots of other soldiers that had been wounded that were on that
flight and a lot of them were in a worse state than I was. "Being shot has not
at all put me off going back out there, I would go back tomorrow if I could. All
the lads are still out there and I wanted to step off the plane with them at the
end of the tour, but instead I came home on a stretcher. "Our job out there is
hard and very intense. You are out on operations for days at a time, but it is
worthwhile and you can see that progress is slowly being made. "I feel that we
are making a difference."
Cpl Hughes admitted that he wrote emotional
letters to his parents, Jayne and David, and girlfriend Katerina Kyriacou and
gave them to a friend to pass on if he did not return. He trained with Sergeant
Ben Ross, from the Royal Military Police, who was killed by a suicide bomber on
patrol Gereshk, Helmand province. He said: "Sgt Ross was someone I had done all
my training with and was a great bloke. "I was in a different area on the day
when he was killed. News that someone you know has died on duty does affect you
but it also makes you more determined to get on with the job."
After leaving Ecclesbourne School, in
Duffield, Cpl Hughes started a three-year degree course in quantity surveying at
Nottingham Trent University. But in his second year he decided to change career
and signed up for the RAF police. He officially joined in April 2006 and was
posted to the Falklands for four months last year. Cpl Hughes admitted that his
mother was nervous about him going out to Afghanistan and said he called her
from Camp Bastion after the shooting to say he was coming home early. He added:
"I didn't want to scare her so dropped the fact that I had been shot into
conversation and said I would be coming home early. To be honest I don't think
she took it all in." Jayne, 50, confirmed that was true. She said: "Waiting for
him to get back to the UK was the worst 48 hours of my life. I didn't know what
to expect and he was hooked up to various drips and things when I saw him. "He
was incredibly lucky, the bullet missed all of his vital organs. I am incredibly
proud of my son and all the people out there."
BASTION SECURITY ALERTS
Afghan surge sees RAF police rise to the
challenge
03 July 2009
RAF News
The RAF Police are helping to tighten security at Camp
Bastion as coalition forces step up the military offensive against the Taliban
in Southern Afghanistan.
Force Protection duties at the coalition base have been
intensified following a surge in the number of US and UK troops arriving in the
country as the focus of international attention shifts from Iraq to
Afghanistan.
Working as part of Force Protection, the RAF Police are
increasing foot patrols beyond the wire and tightening security into and out of
the Bastion base, mounting stop and search operations, manning roadside check
points and carrying out regular foot patrols
Operating at distances of up to five km from the base,
police teams are also mounting intelligence gathering operations in local
villages and operating anti-intimidation patrols to loosen the Taliban grip on
local communities.
Cpl Samantha Smith said: “With the increase in activity
there is a heightened need for counter intelligence field force teams of the
base.”
RAF Police teams operating with ISAF security forces to
crack down on drugs lords operating in the Southern areas of the country have
recently faced fierce attack from battle-hardened Taliban.
As part of a multi-national team brought in to train the
Afghan National Police, they have faced rocket attacks as war lords continue to
target forward operating bases in some of the most dangerous areas of the
country.
Cpl Smith said: “As soon as we got here we put together a
nine-day arrivals package. As soon as that was done we organised night-time
internal foot patrols and operations beyond the wire.
“Within the first week there had been a number of
incidents involving escalation of force drills, as locals attempted to approach
the camp out of hours.”
As part of their role training and mentoring the Afghan
National Police, RAF Police have been brought in to investigate local crime in
the Kandahar region and to deploy to forward operating bases to investigate the
deaths of multi-national Service personnel killed on duty.
Cpl Smith said: “This deployment has clearly shown the
professionalism of the RAF Police and the exceptional adaptability of No 1 RAF
(Tactical) Police Sqn.
“Impressing every Commander in theatre, the RAF Police
has shown how versatile, strategically minded and operations focused it has
become.”
.jpg)
Lorna was 'one
of us' for many years; possibly at Debden when you passed through on basic
(Norman was my basic Instructor - Webmaster (she was when I was i/c Basic Trg
70-71). Not a member as far as I know, but there must be some who will
remember her, the rest is self explanatory.
The sponsored headshave went ahead (no pun ) and
expecting only a 'fun collection' of about £50-ish , Lorna actually raised
nearly £1000, and, it would appear there's more to come. Big C should be
quite proud of her. Regards, Norman Billows
FROM THE RAF/MOD WEB SITE
RAF Police to take over dog
unit in Iraq - Thursday 22 January 2009
A crack squad of specially
trained RAF Police are soon to take charge of the UK forces' dog unit at the
Contingency Operating Base in Basra. In a first for the Royal Air Force, the
Henlow-based team will assume control of the dog section, providing crucial
support to ground troops. As part of their role the RAF Police team will provide
force protection dogs to control crowds during operations, and sniffer dogs to
locate arms caches and take part in roadside check points to combat illegal gun
and drug running in some areas of southern Iraq. It is the first time that RAF
Police dog handlers have been responsible for the joint Army/RAF dog unit on
operations in Iraq to protect the Contingency Operating Base.
They will take over
responsibility from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC), whom they have been
supporting since 2006. In addition to the patrol teams, specialist dog teams
from the Theatre Military Working Dogs Support Unit (TMWDSU) search vehicles at
control of entry points for concealed weapons and explosives. They also provide
protection to Army teams mentoring the Iraqi Army and Department of Border
Enforcement.
Flight Lieutenant Karim
Coslett, Officer Commanding TMWDSU, said: "My handlers and I are relishing the
challenges that lie ahead and are confident that this new and exciting
capability for the RAF will play an important part of force protection of
current and future air and land operations for years to come."
The teams are currently
undertaking a full range of pre-deployment training and will exercise alongside
their RAVC colleagues and members of the Army and RAF Regiment.
Squadron Leader Jeff Brock,
HQ RAF Police, said: "The reorganisation of the RAF Police under Project Darwin
2 in April 2008 has meant that, for the first time, the RAF Police has had
greater flexibility to manage its resources more efficiently in support of the
homeland task. "As a consequence, we are able to deploy whole Formed Units such
as TMWDSU rather than individual augmentees in support of deployed operations."
This article is taken from
the January 2009 edition of RAF News - Voice of the Royal Air
Force.
RAF Police on the beat in Basra
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DefenceNews DefenceInternet www.mod.uk>
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RAF Police Working Dog UK Trials 2010 in Bedfordshire
National trials were held at Henlow in
Bedfordshire for RAF Police dogs
The national trials
for RAF police dogs have been held in Bedfordshire.
Dogs and their handlers are put through their paces
during the RAF Police Working Dog UK Trials, held at RAF Henlow over five days.
Competitors have to complete various assault courses and
exercises including finding a hidden intruder within a marked area.
The RAF Police provide patrol and search dog teams for
Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.
2010 winners were Cpl Scutt from RAF Lyneham and his dog
Argin.
Mick Larkman, who is in charge of Military Working Dogs
at RAF Henlow, told BBC Three Counties reporter, Jenna Benson about the dogs.
"If we want a dog for patrol, we want a dog with passion
but control. If the dog is needed for searches, they need to be able to walk on
slippery surfaces.
"Different requirements are needed for different roles,
but it goes for most dogs to say if you treat them with respect they give it
back."
Provost Marshal, Group Captain J W Whitmell said:
"The format has changed
significantly, becoming more operationally focussed, to reflect the changing
role of the RAF Police Dog Team on operations.
"The inclusion of a demanding canine biathlon, enhanced
from last year's event, is a true reflection of the requirement for RAF Police
handlers to be physically fit and to possess the ability to react quickly and
decisively in rapidly changing and pressurised circumstances."
|
Corporal Robin McIvor – RAF Police
“It’s all about teamwork. That’s the best thing about the
Reserves: you get to be part of a really, really good team that’s doing a very
important job – and have amazing experiences along the way.”
My role
I’m a police patrol officer based in Somerset. A few
years ago, I saw an ad for the RAF Reserves. I felt I wanted to do that bit
extra, so I applied and I’ve been with the Reserves for three years now.
In my role with the RAF Police, I’m based in RAF Henlow
in Bedfordshire. My squadron is part of Tactical Provost Wing and we’re fully
integrated with the regular RAF Police.
I take many elements from my civilian policing to the RAF
Reserves. They work under similar legislation and obviously the experience I’ve
had as a police officer in terms of dealing with people and stressful situations
has been very useful. However, you don’t have to be professionally qualified to
join the RAF Reserves. I had no military background or training, but the good
thing is they give you the training you need to prepare you for what’s ahead.
My experiences
I’ve been to Afghanistan twice, the first time at
Kandahar Air Base where I was involved in air transport security. More recently,
I was mentoring and supporting the Afghan National Police in Gereshk in Helmand.
It was tough but incredibly rewarding.
My life
I’m in my forties now and being able to go out there and
hold my own among young fit blokes is incredibly good for my self-esteem. It’s
also helped me in my civilian police job because it has made me feel I’m capable
of so much more.
RAF
personnel, alongside other ISAF troops, have recently treated several Afghan
nationals at the most successful village medical outreach event held to date for
the local community near Camp Bastion.
The visit was led by the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense
Battalion, United States Marine Corps (USMC), but also comprised RAF Police and
RAF Regiment personnel and elements of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Danish
medical personnel.
Members of 1
Squadron RAF Regiment, normally based at RAF Honington, provided the inner
security cordon for the event whilst the United States Marine Corps provided the
outer cordon.
The ANA also
provided a medic and search capability under the mentorship of the Danish
Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team.
Female RAF Police personnel were used to supplement the
Female Engagement Team (FET) that aims to engage direct with local female
nationals.
Corporals Faye Stinton (left) and
Becky Lockhead, Royal Air Force Police, accompany local females to the village
medical outreach clinic
Having previously engaged with local elders at a shura,
permission was granted by the elders to enter the compounds and treat women and
children.
A United States Marine
Corps doctor accompanied the FET and treated 13 females, two males and 23
children within their compounds.
The male engagement was also highly successful, with 33
males and ten children being treated. A key aspect of the village medical
outreach programme is providing direct medical aid to the local population.
Flight Lieutenant Steve Carroll met
with local elders and chatted through some of the problems facing them. He
said:
"These types of outreach
programmes are crucial in gaining the trust and respect of the local population.
The key to success is undertaking them on their terms and we work hard to
improve our relationship with them.
"Whilst we talked to them about security in their area as
well as health and hygiene, we even found time to talk about the World Cup!"
Medication was provided and
ancillary items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste were given out. In addition,
training in preventative medicine and hygiene was also provided whilst the local
nationals waited to be seen by the doctor.
Corporals Faye Stinton (left) and
Becky Lockhead chat to local children waiting for medical attention at the
village medical outreach clinic
Corporals Faye Stinton and Becky Lockhead of the Tactical
Provost Wing, RAF Henlow, are relatively new arrivals to Bastion and normally
work at the main entry point. This was their first trip into the local community
and they were both slightly nervous prior to 'travelling outside the wire'.
Corporal Stinton said:
"Our role was to escort and search
women and children before they saw the medical staff. The children certainly
were characters and it was great to meet the local nationals."
Lieutenant Snipes, United States
Marine Corps, and Flight Lieutenant Steve Carroll, Royal Air Force Police, hold
a mini-shura prior to the commencement of the village medical outreach clinic
Corporal Lockhead
added:
"Ultimately we are here to
support the local population, and to meet them today and provide medical
attention was very rewarding work.
"The reality of the life of the people here is very
different to what I was expecting; they were courteous, friendly and glad to
receive the medical support that was offered.
"I found the conversations [through the interpreter] amazing
but I hope that one young boy was joking when he gave me the chance to be one of
his future wives!"
Building on
the success of the day, Flight Lieutenant Carroll and his RAF Regiment and RAF
Police colleagues will be participating in similar ventures in other parts of
the local community soon.
He said
the event truly highlighted the ISAF partnership:
"The outreach programme requires co-operation and
partnership from numerous organisations.
"This operation was led by the USMC; however, Afghan
National Army, Danish and Royal Air Force personnel were vital to achieving the
results on the day and highlights the true international approach to supporting
the local population."
Pictures: Squadron Leader Neville Clayton
RAF
RAF Police Set the Scene at Santander
A 13 strong Royal Air Force Police team were the first
working UK military personnel on the scene at Santander in Spain, helping
Service personnel and civilians desperate to make their way home to
Britain.
RAF Police
in High Impact Police Strategy Survey
You would have been
forgiven for thinking that, on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th March, a serious
crime had happened on the “Married Patch”. The area was dominated by RAF Police
personnel from all over the 7 Sqn RAF Police area of responsibility, (AOR).
Fortunately nothing that serious had happened, it was a continuation of a RAF
Police High Impact Policing Strategy Survey (HIPSS) finding out what it was that
was of most concern to Service Families in the Lyneham area. The initiative had
been launched the previous week at RAF Brize Norton, and will continue to roll
out to other Stn’s within the 7 Sqn RAFP AOR (St Mawgan, St Athan, Odiham,
Benson and Northolt). This will then give us, the RAF Police, an unprecedented
picture of what people are really worried about in their home environment.
In keeping with the 7 Sqn RAF Police joined up approach
to policing, RAF Lyneham’s Police men and women were supported by their
colleagues from other 7 Sqn Stations to ensure that the day to day policing
focus at Lyneham was maintained.
The weather was on the side of the Police as RAF
Lyneham’s A/Cpl Matt Allen and newly arrived Cpl Mark Gibbons proceeded to walk
the streets, like a 21st Century version of Dixon of Dock Green, talking to
anyone who was at home. While many of those reading this article will probably
have been questioned, or at least been told about it by their partner, for those
unaware of the purpose of the survey, we were looking into a number of areas
ranging from how you, as the SFA family, perceived crime in the SFA area and
subsequently how you thought it was being dealt with, particularly if you had
been a victim of a crime on the SFA; how aware were you about crime, what caused
you the most distress or worry and what we, as the RAF Police could do to help
improve that situation before moving onto what you perceived the biggest threat
was to the SFA so for example your worries in relation to terrorism or just
bored kids who may stray over the line into Anti-Social Behaviour. Working into
the early evening, in order to question as many people as possible, information
was gathered from the majority of the 800 or so married quarters that make up
the “patch”.
The results of this survey will be collated by the
Project Officer, Fg Off Phil Davidge, who stated that “The HIPSS Operation at
RAF Lyneham proved to be a success with a large percentage of people choosing to
take part in the survey. On the whole residents welcomed the interaction with
the Police, and provided an interesting insight, all of which will prove to be
very beneficial when planning the 7 Sqn RAF policing strategy to address some of
the immediate concerns.”
As OC Police at RAF Lyneham, I would very much like to
echo Fg Off Davidges’ thoughts. It was reassuring to know that Service Personnel
and their families felt safe within their home environment. For many people
living in quarters, this feeling is incredibly important, and even more so when
your partner is deployed Out of Area, knowing that were you live is safe, is one
thing I place great emphasis on and the support provided to the RAF Police at
Lyneham by the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) and in particular PC Jarra Brown
helps us in the fight against crime. You will be reassured to know that we
regularly interact with both the Wiltshire Police and MDP in planned operations
targeting both Anti Social Behaviour and more serious crimes and as RAF Lyneham
draws down, we will continue to provide a full policing service to Lyneham
personnel and their families.
Sqn Ldr James Alford, OC 7 Sqn RAF Police, commented that
"Undertaking co-ordinated Community Policing tasks such as this are a great
opportunity for the RAF Police. They represent the basic principles of Community
Policing - integrating with our local community, meeting the families of our
personnel and understanding the needs of the Station and Service Families. It
enables the RAF Police to see what it is that people want, and allows us, as a
Police Organisation, to respond accordingly.. By conducting similar surveys
across the whole of my Area of Responsibility, through effective and targeted
Community Policing, I can deliver the policing service more efficiently and
effectively".
Should you our your partner ever need Police assistance
you may wish to make a note of the following numbers
PC Jarra Brown 07776493164
RAF Police 01249 896105 (24 hrs)
Wiltshire Police non emergency 0845
087000
Paws on the Front Line: Air Dogs in
Action
From Basrah to Camp Bastion – wherever the Royal Air
Force is deployed there will be some four legged personnel; the Air Dogs of the
RAF Police. Today the RAF Police are the only Service police force to employ
Military Working Dogs (MWDs), deploying them around the World in a variety of
roles, with several dogs currently serving in Afghanistan.
Flight Sergeant Arthur Sargeant holds the post of Provost
Marshals Dog Inspectorate, responsible for the welfare, training, standards and
licensing of all MWDs. “The work undertaken by RAF Police dogs in theatre is
invaluable, and they are considered a key asset for the Commander. Providing
specialist arms explosive search capability and Force Protection, they act as a
Force Multiplier, allowing the Commander greater flexibility with their
personnel. In some situations the MWD team can do the same amount of work as ten
personnel."
For the first time, the three main roles of the MWD team
will be on show to the public in a capability demonstration at this year’s
Crufts. Arthur explained: “The audience will see a scenario where a team of
personnel and dogs will work together to provide a safe working environment for
both the Military and the civilian population in an operational theatre. They
will see our capability in Area Clearance, Vehicle Searching and restoring
public order with a Police Dog team.”
Three Air Dogs have just been awarded a special 'Dogs in
Action' bravery award for their service overseas. Presented by the charity
Wetnose Animal Aid, the award was accepted by Corporal Heather Lacey, who
returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan a few weeks ago. Heather, normally
based at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire, was reunited with Vehicle Search Dog
Duke, a collie cross spaniel, her constant companion during the several months
served in Iraq in 2008. "At Basrah Air Station we were searching everything from
sand trucks to personnel cars and water trucks. We also spent 3 weeks with the
Household Cavalry in the desert, carrying out snap Vehicle Check Points around
the outskirts of the marsh land. Duke and I were together 24 hours a day for
most of the deployment, with him sleeping next to me or on the bottom of my
sleeping bag."
“Being back with Duke is great, he was not only a work
partner but a friend whilst I was away on operations, and no matter what was
going on he was always there for me. I owe him a lot as he kept me safe for my
time on tour. We had to have complete trust as you can't afford to get it wrong
when looking for weapons and explosives” said Heather. “I was out in Afghanistan
as a Vehicle Search Handler with another dog called Dex, who is now having a
rest in Cyprus before coming back to the UK. We were based at Camp Bastion,
searching around over 1000 vehicles a month, working as part of the RAF force
protection element alongside the United States Marine Corps.”
Now 35, Heather joined the RAF in 1997. “The best thing
about the job is knowing that the more you put in, the more the dogs give back
without any questions. They work unconditionally, and whilst you might be having
a bad day, you take your dog out and everything changes as they are always happy
to see you. In Afghanistan the dogs are an added aid in searching as they can
get into places that we can't reach. They can also help to keep everyone safe as
just the presence of a dog can sometimes be enough to deter enemy action.”
Editor: Lesley Woods
Photographer: CPL Dylan Browne RAF
RAF/MOD Crown Copyright
2010.
Wetnose
Bravery Awards for RAF dogs
|
Cpl Heartford and Kubo have been
teamed for three years |
Last week, at a
ceremony in the House of Lords, Royal Air Force Police dogs received a
special 'Dogs In Action' bravery award for their Service in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Presented by the charity Wetnose Animal Aid, the
team of five personnel and three dogs were the only military or police
unit to be recognised.
A Royal Air Force Lyneham-based team collected an
award.
Air Dog, Kubo, and Corporal Damian Heartford have
carried out a multitude of duties.
These have included patrolling the Service Married
Quarter patches and the single living accommodation areas on the Unit, as
well as working at the Royal International Air Tattoo.
Kubo and Cpl Heartford have been teamed for three
years, and during that period they have won the Drissels trophy presented
at the end of a competition for the best RAF Police Dog Team, for the past
two years and were placed second on their first year together.
Air Dog Kubo is a five-year-old, long-haired German
Shepherd, and was bred in the Czech Republic.
On arrival at the Defence Animal Centre (DAC) in
Melton Mowbray, he was assessed and found to be of the high standard
required to become a Police Dog in the Royal Air Force.
Variety of
specialisations
During his time at the DAC he was trained in a wide
variety of specialisations including tracking criminals who had ran away
from the scene of a crime or people who were lost, searching areas for
anything that has been dropped or discarded, searching buildings for
people.
They also deal with public disorder crowd control,
differing scenarios involving the detainment of a fleeing criminal,
carrying out a stand off and when instructed, ceasing any attack.
An RAF spokesperson said, "The Royal Air Force are
the only Service Police force to operate military working dogs. The work
undertaken by RAF Police dogs in theatre is invaluable, and they are
considered a key asset for the Commander.
"They provide specialist arms explosive search
capability and Force Protection; they act as a Force Multiplier, allowing
the Commander greater flexibility with their personnel, whilst delivering
maximum effect on the ground.
"In some situations the dog team can do the same
amount of work as ten personnel." |
News Article
RAF Police dogs honoured
with awards at the House of Lords
5 Mar 10
Royal Air Force Police dogs
have received a special 'Dogs in Action' bravery award for their service in Iraq
and Afghanistan at a ceremony held at the House of Lords on Wednesday 3 March
2010.
The RAF Police dogs team of five personnel
and three dogs was the only military or police unit to be recognised in the
awards presented by the charity Wetnose Animal Aid.
Flight Sergeant Arthur Sargeant, who holds the post of
Provost Marshal's Dog Inspector, responsible for the welfare, training,
standards and licencing of all military working dogs (MWD), said:
"The work undertaken by RAF Police dogs in theatre is
invaluable, and they are considered a key asset for the commander.
"Providing specialist arms explosive search capability
and force protection, they act as a force multiplier, allowing the commander
greater flexibility with their personnel, whilst delivering maximum effect on
the ground.
"In some situations the MWD team can do the same amount
of work as ten personnel."
Accepting the award on behalf of the team was Corporal
Heather Lacey, from RAF Halton, who has herself just returned from
Afghanistan.
She has just been reunited with vehicle search dog Duke,
a collie cross spaniel, who was her constant companion during a tour in
Iraq.
Corporal Lacey said:
"We made several trips to the border as well as
checking vehicles entering Basrah Air Station, searching everything from sand
trucks to personnel cars and water trucks.
"We spent three weeks with the Household Cavalry in the
desert, carrying out snap vehicle checkpoints around the outskirts of the
marshland.
"We lived under cam [camouflage] netting and in
the vehicles, where I would dig down into the sand to find a cool layer under
the vehicles to keep Duke out of the sun.
"Duke and I were together 24-hours-a-day for most of
the deployment, with him sleeping next to me or on the bottom of my sleeping
bag."
Alongside Duke were canine colleagues Kubo, and the
youngest member of the team, arms explosives search dog Billy.
Billy's handler is Corporal Cliff Cullen, from RAF
Northolt, who said:
"Billy is a two-and-a-half year old liver and white
English Springer Spaniel, and I have worked with him since September 2009,
when he came out of training.
"The last four months I have been training him in all
disciplines of arms explosives searching in order for him to get licensed and
become employed here at RAF Northolt."
Billy was a big hit with the guests at the event, who
queued up to meet him:
"Billy is a gentle, loving dog who is very keen to
work", Corporal Cullen continued.
"He is a cheeky little boy who will always do something
that will either make you laugh or cry, but he always produces the goods when
asked to."
RAF Police dogs provide an essential force protection
component to military operations worldwide.
Since 1945, RAF Police dogs have been employed in the
protection of RAF airfields and military assets, the recovery of evidence,
public order, the detection of drugs, and on anti-terrorist operations.
On an operational front, RAF Police dogs have served or
are currently serving in: Singapore, Aden, Hong Kong, Northern Ireland, the
Falkland Islands, Bosnia, Kosovo, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia,
Iraq and Afghanistan.
Elements of the RAF Police can normally be found wherever
the RAF is operating - for example, in Afghanistan, they provide policing and
force protection support to the main operating bases, and they are also involved
in Afghan National Police mentoring, close protection duties and the
Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Task Force.
Surrey Police and RAF join forces to tackle crime
Submitted:
23/02/2005 09:49:45
PC Martin Savage and an RAF police
officer
Officers from the RAF Police will be joining forces with
officers from Surrey Police this summer for a series of operations to tackle
autocrime around Mole Valley’s beauty spots.
The operations are planned from March onwards and will
see an increase in patrols around the areas beauty spot car parks at a time when
there is traditionally an increase in the amount of autocrime. Officers from the
RAF Police based at Headley Court will be joining Surrey Police Officers to help
give an even greater police presence.
The operations are all part of a more joined up approach
between Surrey Police and the RAF to help tackle crime. This new initiative will
see better communication and a greater sharing of intelligence between the two
organisations.
The links with the RAF Police have been forged by Mole
Valley Rural Affairs Officer PC Martin Savage.
PC Savage said:
“The Mole Valley can be very challenging to police
because of how remote so much of the area is. The RAF police already carry out
patrols on a daily basis around the Headley Court base and so it seemed like a
sensible progression to join forces. Not only will they be joining us for the
operation we have planned over the summer but they will also be making regular
stops at the beauty spot car parks on their routine patrols. If they see
anything suspicious when they are out and about then they will note down any
details, such as registration numbers, and immediately pass the information on
to police.
“RAF officers don’t have the same powers of arrest that a
regular police officer has but the additional eyes and ears that they provide
when out on patrol could prove to be an invaluable source of intelligence. They
also drive highly visible marked cars that should provide a powerful deterrent
to any criminals looking to target the Mole Valley.”
He added:
“This partnership is another unique way in which Surrey
Police is keeping the people of Surrey safe and feeling safe and I am very
optimistic about its future.”
An RAF Police Spokesperson said:
"Working together with the local police has improved all
aspects of security and more often than not, has proven successful in crime
prevention in the area. This relationship has made the military more visible in
the community and it is with pride that we can help in keeping both Surrey and
our assets safe from unwanted attention."
For further information please contact the Divisional
Press and Publicity Officer for East Surrey
E-mail: 8688@surrey.pnn.police.uk
The
RAF's Emma Bennion keeps troops safe in Afghanistan
|
|
It's been
described by soldiers as one of the most dangerous tasks in the world -
guarding the gates to the UK's Camp Bastion in Helmand in Afghanistan.
But that's where you'll find 26-year-old RAF
servicewoman Emma Bennion, from Middlewich in Cheshire.
Not only is she charged with keeping troops safe in
the camp, she's helping to mentor and train Afghan soldiers.
On average, Emma and the RAF police Force
Protection team check 150 vehicles a day and up to 300 people.
They use sniffer dogs and other security equipment
to man Camp Bastion's check point one, which stands 1km ahead of the main
gate.
Learning the
language
Corporal Bennion takes it in turns with others to
guard the check point with one other soldier and an Afghan interpreter, to
talk to locals who come onto the base.
She said: "You do try and have a chat with some of
them and learn their language, but in busy periods it's hard to - we do
try to learn a little from the interpreters we have here."
The base is home to some 14,500 British, US and
NATO troops and civilian personnel.
"There are 36 of us out here, doing several
different jobs," said Corporal Bennion.
"Our main role is to provide security for the base,
go out to the local area and talk to the local villagers.
"We provide security for the whole base, we're the
first point of contact, its safety for everyone."
Suicide bomb
attempts
Emma said her team are a close-knit group and
despite a number of suicide bomb attempts at the base - they manage to
keep smiling.
14,500 British, US and NATO
troops and civilians live on the
camp. |
Despite Afghanistan's conservative culture she said
that the gender issue is exaggerated.
"You do get a few strange looks when you walk
through a crowd of locals - but there is no issue," she said.
And although the team are close-knit, Corporal
Bennion does still get homesick for Cheshire.
"I miss friends and family and being able to go
home and just relax. Although you have time off here, there's nowhere to
go. But I like the challenge of being here."
Commanding Officer Mick Smeath, 43, says that Cpl
Bennion and all the team had done an "outstanding job" or their tour.
"The RAF regiment in the local villages really are
winning the hearts and minds of the people, and the RAF police are working
well with the local population who are coming onto the base to work."
The team arrived in early December 2009 and are
expected home in late May 2010. |
Service with honour
Back row, from left: Cpl Gillian
Cartledge, Senior Aircraftman Nigel Butler, Senior Aircraft-woman Leanne
Prinsloo, Senior Aircraftman Steve Rowley and Senior Aircraft-woman Lisa Healy.
Front row, from left: Cpl Emma Proctor, Sqn Ldr Steve O’Hara, Gp Capt Phil Cox,
WO Mick Keane, Lt Craig Macpherson.
Published Date: 27
January 2010
RAF Boulmer
personnel have been honoured at a medal ceremony held in the Officers'
Mess.
Families of the
recipients watched proudly as the Station Commander Group Captain Phil Cox
presented the medals.
An Air
Officer Commanding No 2 Group Commendation was presented to Corporal Emma
Proctor, who is a member of the RAF Police Flight at RAF Boulmer
Female RAF officer learns
what Afghan women want
29 Jan 10
An RAF officer is taking the
lead in a new initiative to reach out to Afghan women living in the
poverty-stricken desert communities near Camp Bastion, the biggest British
military base in Helmand province.
Flight Lieutenant Charlie Mee talking with
an Afghan woman
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD
2010]
Flight Lieutenant 'Charlie' Mee works jointly with
American military personnel from the nearby US base, Camp Leatherneck. She
said:
"For the first time anywhere in Helmand outside the
provincial capital of Lashkar Gah, we're meeting and speaking with ordinary
Afghan women to find out what their concerns are and what help they would like
from us to improve their communities.
"Because of the cultural restrictions Afghan women are
under, it's been impossible for my male predecessors to engage with the
females. Women rarely leave the family compound, let alone their local
village. What I am able to do is meet and talk to the women here in a way
that's not been done before."
Flight Lieutenant Mee, together with some American female
medics and interpreters, recently obtained permission from male village elders
to talk to some of their womenfolk:
"We were allowed inside the privacy of a mud-walled
compound to meet women from a small village," she said. "We asked them about
their health and found out what medical problems they are suffering from so
that we can return soon with the right medicines to treat them.
"We also asked about education and the women said they
wanted it for themselves and their children but that it was their husbands who
must decide.
"The women, who live in the most basic conditions, are
mostly either pregnant or have just given birth. They suffer from irritated
skin and rashes, mild fevers, coughs and colds. Their level of knowledge about
basic personal hygiene and health is incredibly low. They are not even aware
that they need to drink water after childbirth in order to produce breast
milk.
Flight Lieutenant Charlie Mee
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
"These women are providing a good snapshot of the
surrounding area. The important thing now is to come back with the right
medicines and to keep up the engagement process. In future we will try to hold
more small meetings at regular intervals in different locations. Familiar
faces are important - if the women get to know and recognise us, trust will
build up.
"It is vital to engage with the women. Although they're
very restricted in society they hold a lot of sway in their own homes and in
their own small communities. They can influence what the men do and in
particular help form the opinions and actions of the young men of fighting age
who might otherwise be encouraged to join the Taliban."
Flight Lieutenant Mee is based at RAF Wittering, near
Stamford. She deployed to Afghanistan in December for her second six-month tour
of duty in the country.
She is an RAF police officer by trade and joined the
military in 2002. She completed a tour to Basra, Iraq, in 2005 and another to
Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2008, where she helped co-ordinate the training and
development of the Afghan National Police.
Her current job means she regularly meets with local
Afghans - usually male - to find out what they need to make their villages
better and safer. She said:
"Of course, improving the security situation is vital,
but longer term it's about building a successful, prosperous future for these
people so they have the confidence to stand on their own feet, independent of
the Taliban. Ultimately we'd like to provide schools, basic healthcare and
alternative power, all run and maintained under the direction of the local
elders.
"Through building up relationships we also hope to
learn more about this area; who lives here, who the leaders are, how they make
a living, and of course any potential links to the Taliban.
"The most rewarding thing about my job is that I feel
we are making a difference. These people have nothing, but by talking to them
we are finding out what they actually want and helping them to build a
sustainable community. This is more than just charity, it's about providing a
successful future for these women and their families."
RAF police get a good grounding in Boston
Published Date:
13 January 2010
Wednesday, 12pm - ROYAL Air Force police officers have been
getting a taste of life on the beat in Boston.
Two officers joined the town centre's Neighbourhood Policing
Team yesterday (Tuesday) and will do so again today.
The aim is to gain more experience of policing within local
communities.
It is also hoped
the exercise will help develop stronger community links between the two forces.
A spokesman for Lincolnshire
Police said: "We can confirm that our officers are out on patrol with a number
of RAF police officers.
"The activity is for
young-in-service RAF officers, which aims to strengthen community links and
share good practice."
The RAF personnel joined Boston's
officers on an observational basis and do not have any power to police the
town's streets, other than those of an ordinary person.
Previously, Lincolnshire Police and
RAF Police have liased on events such as Remembrance Day and other parades in
the town.
A RAF spokesman said
this week's exercise is just for the two days at the moment but depending on how
successful it is may be repeated again in the future.
Creetown family receive medal in memory of their son who
was killed in action
Dec 25
2009 by Julie Watt, Dumfries Standard Friday
A CREETOWN couple have received a medal in memory of
their son who was killed in action in Iraq.
Sylvia and Rod Shepherd were overcome with pride after
being awarded the Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll in honour of their son
David, who died on May 19, 2003, while serving with the RAF police on Operation
TELIC.
The medal is granted to the next of kin of UK armed
forces personnel who have died on operations or as a result of an act of
terrorism in national recognition of their loss and sacrifice.
Introduced in July, this is the first time the name of a
reigning monarch has been given to a new award since the George Cross was
instituted in 1940 by King George VI.
The medal was given to Mr and Mrs Shepherd and their
daughter Paula at a special presentation by Group Captain John Whitmell, Provost
Marshal (RAF) on behalf of the Queen.
Mr Whitmell said: “Cpl Shepherd was a fine, upstanding
RAF Policeman, who embodied all that is good about the RAF. The loss of Cpl
Shepherd was felt keenly by all his colleagues; however, we remain inspired by
his commitment and sense of duty. He will not be forgotten.”
Proud Mrs Shepherd said: “David was a unique and special
person who can never be replaced; we are, however, immensely proud to have
received this award in his place.
“Although it was a great privilege, we are saddened that
it is one that any parent would not wish to receive in the circumstances.”
Her Majesty The Queen said of the awards: “This seems to
me a right and proper way of showing our enduring debt to those who are killed
while actively protecting what is most dear to us all. The solemn dignity which
we attach to the names of those who have fallen is deeply engrained in our
national character. As a people, we accord this ultimate sacrifice the highest
honour and respect.”
The arms of the Elizabeth Cross bear floral symbols
representing England (Rose), Scotland (Thistle), Northern Ireland (Shamrock) and
Wales (Daffodil). The reverse of the Cross is engraved with the name of the
person in whose memory it is granted.
RAF Police on the Helmand
beat
24 Sep 09
Operating in temperatures
touching 40 degrees and under constant threat of attack from insurgents, the
Helmand beat is one of the toughest police assignments in the world. Report by
Squadron Leader Iain Houghton.
An RAF policeman giving a local Afghan
trader a helping hand at Camp Bastion in Helmand province, Afghanistan
[Picture: SAC Neil Chapman, Crown Copyright/MOD
2009]
RAF Police patrols in the UK-controlled area of southern
Afghanistan might face more danger than their civilian counterparts may ever
encounter but the aim is the same - to bring the rule of law.
The RAF Police anti-intimidation
patrols are a key element of the over-arching International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) strategy to loosen the grip of the Taliban on Afghan
communities.
Based at Camp Bastion, operating as part of the ISAF unit
brought in to mentor the fledgling Afghan National Police force and clamp down
on the endemic corruption that blights many Helmand communities, the RAF team
mount daily patrols into some of the province's most dangerous areas.
Patrol Commander, Sergeant Gareth Stagg, said:
"One of the RAF Police's most important tasks is to get
out and about - we try to build up a relationship with the locals, show them
we are there to help Afghanistan."
When Camp Bastion was carved out of the Afghan desert the
area was unpopulated. But with camps and airfields come business opportunities
and the Afghans have a strong commercial sense.
A local community is forming in the area around the camp
to service its needs and bringing with it a challenge for the RAF Police
patrols.
The police call it a village but that's not accurate, it
is a group of dwellings and businesses clinging to existence in a way that is
difficult to comprehend.
RAF Police with American ISAF counterparts
at Camp Bastion
[Picture: SAC Neil Chapman, Crown
Copyright/MOD 2009]
But it is commerce and it is peaceful, thanks in part to
the RAF Police's work.
Sergeant Stagg is doing the work of an old-fashioned beat
bobby, getting to know the locals, talking to them, making them feel safe - with
an armed patrol providing cover around him. He said:
"We try to gain the confidence of the locals and hope
in return they'll help us. These are very kind people, working away from home,
trying to make money for their families."
On a recent patrol, a civilian vehicle approached and got
too close for comfort. Sergeant Ian Young said:
"I had to get it to stop - we did not know who the
driver was and the risk of a suicide bomber is very real."
Most locals understand what to do and the car pulls to
one side away from the patrol. It is a timely reminder that this is Afghanistan
- a violent place.
As the patrol heads home, the day's last stop is at the
local market. As Sergeant Stagg walks to the door with his helmet under his arm
he spots two Afghans armed with Kalashnikovs.
He makes a quick radio call to the rest of the patrol so
there are no misunderstandings as he has recognised the armed men - two local
security contractors who have come in to shop.
A familiar ritual follows - sit, talk, be offered and
accept a drink - but here Sergeant Stagg makes a more material contribution to
the rebuilding of Afghanistan.
He buys a case of soft drinks for the patrol for their
return to base - a small gesture, but probably one of the ways the hearts
and minds campaign for Afghanistan will be won.
This article is taken from the 11
September 2009 edition of RAF News - Voice of the Royal Air
Force.
RAFP NCO Wounded In
Afghanistan
A LIGHT
glinting in the trees warned Corporal Gareth Hughes that something was about to
happen.
As he turned to alert the commander of his
night patrol, Taliban insurgents opened fire. Within seconds the 25-year-old was
hit. But believing the bullet had only struck his body armour, Cpl Hughes pushed
forward and fired back. As the searing pain intensified, the former Ecclesbourne
School pupil looked down and saw blood coming from a wound in his stomach. "You
develop a sixth sense about when things are going to happen and always have to
be prepared. When I saw a light in the trees ahead I just knew," said Cpl
Hughes. "The insurgents were about 40m away and I was hit within seconds. "I
felt the hit, but initially thought it had just struck my body armour so carried
on firing. It felt hot and like I had been kicked in the ribs – then I saw the
blood. I shouted for help and tried to stem the bleeding with my own hand. "To
be honest the main thing I felt was relief, relief I could still move my arms
and my legs and relief about the fact that I was still breathing."
With bullets still flying, Cpl Hughes was
pulled to a nearby checkpoint where he was treated until a helicopter arrived to
fly him to Camp Bastion in Helmand Province for treatment. The bullet hit Cpl
Hughes at the bottom of his back before skimming his ribs and coming out the
other side of his body – missing his internal organs by just centimetres. But
doctors feared the worst and to be sure there was no internal bleeding or
lasting damage surgeons performed an exploratory laparoscopy – an internal
examination done by making a 25cm long cut into Cpl Hughes' chest so they could
look inside. He said: "Luckily there was no damage to any of my internal organs
but it could have been a completely different story. The round missed my
kidneys, liver and lungs by a matter of centimetres. "I know I am one of the
lucky ones. There is no lasting damage and the only signs left are the three
scars on my body."
Cpl Hughes is in the RAF police and was on a
voluntary six-month tour of duty when he was injured on July 4. His role is to
train Afghan police in the war-torn country, and on the day of the incident Cpl
Hughes was working alongside Afghan officers and the Light Dragoons, who were
clearing an area in Babaji, as part of Operation Panther's Claw. Hooked up to
various drips and on strong painkillers, Cpl Hughes was flown from Camp Bastion
to Birmingham and taken to Selly Oak Hospital. He was discharged on Sunday and
returned home to Chaddesden, where he has been recovering. Cpl Hughes said:
"There were lots of other soldiers that had been wounded that were on that
flight and a lot of them were in a worse state than I was. "Being shot has not
at all put me off going back out there, I would go back tomorrow if I could. All
the lads are still out there and I wanted to step off the plane with them at the
end of the tour, but instead I came home on a stretcher. "Our job out there is
hard and very intense. You are out on operations for days at a time, but it is
worthwhile and you can see that progress is slowly being made. "I feel that we
are making a difference."
Cpl Hughes admitted that he wrote emotional
letters to his parents, Jayne and David, and girlfriend Katerina Kyriacou and
gave them to a friend to pass on if he did not return. He trained with Sergeant
Ben Ross, from the Royal Military Police, who was killed by a suicide bomber on
patrol Gereshk, Helmand province. He said: "Sgt Ross was someone I had done all
my training with and was a great bloke. "I was in a different area on the day
when he was killed. News that someone you know has died on duty does affect you
but it also makes you more determined to get on with the job."
After leaving Ecclesbourne School, in
Duffield, Cpl Hughes started a three-year degree course in quantity surveying at
Nottingham Trent University. But in his second year he decided to change career
and signed up for the RAF police. He officially joined in April 2006 and was
posted to the Falklands for four months last year. Cpl Hughes admitted that his
mother was nervous about him going out to Afghanistan and said he called her
from Camp Bastion after the shooting to say he was coming home early. He added:
"I didn't want to scare her so dropped the fact that I had been shot into
conversation and said I would be coming home early. To be honest I don't think
she took it all in." Jayne, 50, confirmed that was true. She said: "Waiting for
him to get back to the UK was the worst 48 hours of my life. I didn't know what
to expect and he was hooked up to various drips and things when I saw him. "He
was incredibly lucky, the bullet missed all of his vital organs. I am incredibly
proud of my son and all the people out there."
BASTION SECURITY ALERTS
Afghan surge sees RAF police rise to the
challenge
03 July 2009
RAF News
The RAF Police are helping to tighten security at Camp
Bastion as coalition forces step up the military offensive against the Taliban
in Southern Afghanistan.
Force Protection duties at the coalition base have been
intensified following a surge in the number of US and UK troops arriving in the
country as the focus of international attention shifts from Iraq to
Afghanistan.
Working as part of Force Protection, the RAF Police are
increasing foot patrols beyond the wire and tightening security into and out of
the Bastion base, mounting stop and search operations, manning roadside check
points and carrying out regular foot patrols
Operating at distances of up to five km from the base,
police teams are also mounting intelligence gathering operations in local
villages and operating anti-intimidation patrols to loosen the Taliban grip on
local communities.
Cpl Samantha Smith said: “With the increase in activity
there is a heightened need for counter intelligence field force teams of the
base.”
RAF Police teams operating with ISAF security forces to
crack down on drugs lords operating in the Southern areas of the country have
recently faced fierce attack from battle-hardened Taliban.
As part of a multi-national team brought in to train the
Afghan National Police, they have faced rocket attacks as war lords continue to
target forward operating bases in some of the most dangerous areas of the
country.
Cpl Smith said: “As soon as we got here we put together a
nine-day arrivals package. As soon as that was done we organised night-time
internal foot patrols and operations beyond the wire.
“Within the first week there had been a number of
incidents involving escalation of force drills, as locals attempted to approach
the camp out of hours.”
As part of their role training and mentoring the Afghan
National Police, RAF Police have been brought in to investigate local crime in
the Kandahar region and to deploy to forward operating bases to investigate the
deaths of multi-national Service personnel killed on duty.
Cpl Smith said: “This deployment has clearly shown the
professionalism of the RAF Police and the exceptional adaptability of No 1 RAF
(Tactical) Police Sqn.
“Impressing every Commander in theatre, the RAF Police
has shown how versatile, strategically minded and operations focused it has
become.”
Lorna was 'one
of us' for many years; possibly at Debden when you passed through on basic
(Norman was my basic Instructor - Webmaster (she was when I was i/c Basic Trg
70-71). Not a member as far as I know, but there must be some who will
remember her, the rest is self explanatory.
The sponsored headshave went ahead (no pun ) and
expecting only a 'fun collection' of about £50-ish , Lorna actually raised
nearly £1000, and, it would appear there's more to come. Big C should be
quite proud of her. Regards, Norman Billows
FROM THE RAF/MOD WEB SITE
RAF Police to take over dog
unit in Iraq - Thursday 22 January 2009
A crack squad of specially
trained RAF Police are soon to take charge of the UK forces' dog unit at the
Contingency Operating Base in Basra. In a first for the Royal Air Force, the
Henlow-based team will assume control of the dog section, providing crucial
support to ground troops. As part of their role the RAF Police team will provide
force protection dogs to control crowds during operations, and sniffer dogs to
locate arms caches and take part in roadside check points to combat illegal gun
and drug running in some areas of southern Iraq. It is the first time that RAF
Police dog handlers have been responsible for the joint Army/RAF dog unit on
operations in Iraq to protect the Contingency Operating Base.
They will take over
responsibility from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC), whom they have been
supporting since 2006. In addition to the patrol teams, specialist dog teams
from the Theatre Military Working Dogs Support Unit (TMWDSU) search vehicles at
control of entry points for concealed weapons and explosives. They also provide
protection to Army teams mentoring the Iraqi Army and Department of Border
Enforcement.
Flight Lieutenant Karim
Coslett, Officer Commanding TMWDSU, said: "My handlers and I are relishing the
challenges that lie ahead and are confident that this new and exciting
capability for the RAF will play an important part of force protection of
current and future air and land operations for years to come."
The teams are currently
undertaking a full range of pre-deployment training and will exercise alongside
their RAVC colleagues and members of the Army and RAF Regiment.
Squadron Leader Jeff Brock,
HQ RAF Police, said: "The reorganisation of the RAF Police under Project Darwin
2 in April 2008 has meant that, for the first time, the RAF Police has had
greater flexibility to manage its resources more efficiently in support of the
homeland task. "As a consequence, we are able to deploy whole Formed Units such
as TMWDSU rather than individual augmentees in support of deployed operations."
This article is taken from
the January 2009 edition of RAF News - Voice of the Royal Air
Force.
RAF Police on the beat in Basra
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Prior to their 6-month deployment, the contingent of 55
Tongans completed a 7-week training course with the Royal Air Force Regiment at
RAF Honington in Suffolk. During this time, the group became proficient at all
elements of force protection including vehicle searching, guarding, patrolling,
battlefield first-aid and infantry battle skills.
1 July 2011
Undeterred by the 110 miles that
lay between us and RAF Cottesmore, we saddled up and our journey
began.
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