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Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Inspection of the Royal Military Police

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans (Mr Mark Lancaster) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I wish to inform the House that I am laying today, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence, the first report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Inspection of the Royal Military Police.

This is the first report as directed within the Armed Forces Act 2011, which requires Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary to inspect, and report to the Secretary of State, on the independence and effectiveness of investigation carried out by each service police force. The Royal Military Police were the first to be inspected in October 2014.

I consider this report to be very positive and provides assurance from an independent civilian authority that, on the whole, the leadership of the Royal Military Police is good. Ten recommendations have been made for improvement, in particular concerning crime recording and monitoring the effectiveness of investigations. The Army are implementing an action plan to address the recommendations.

Copies of the report will be available in the Vote Office and Printed Paper Office.