Latest military police recruits join frontline officers

Serving members of the Royal Military Police (RMP) have once again joined forces with the south Staffordshire local policing team (LPT).

Vetted and trained to the same standards as our officers, Lance Corporal Bradley Turner and Corporal Anthony Smith are working with us across the south of the county.

They are the second pair of RMP officers to join us as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and are on shift alongside our policing teams.

We joined the placement programme following the success of a pilot scheme in North Yorkshire, where military and civilian police officers collaborated to keep the public safe and strengthen the relationship between the army and the force locally.

L/Cpl Bradley Turner, 22, said: “I became involved in this programme as I saw it as a great opportunity to further develop my policing knowledge and elevate my frontline policing experience, whilst also identifying effective strategies to further strengthen collaborative working between the Royal Military Police and Staffordshire Police.

“The public’s positive response, alongside the LPT’s warm reception, has made us feel truly welcomed. The experience so far has been brilliant and I am looking forward to working alongside Staffordshire Police for the remainder of my placement.”

Cpl Smith, 38, added: “Throughout my career I have worked alongside my civilian counterparts many times, but never had the opportunity to embed with them. This was particularly appealing because I am a Stafford resident and I grew up in Penkridge. I was keen to use my experience and local knowledge and apply it to a role working within my own community.”

Chief Inspector Tim Norbury, from the south Staffs LPT, said: “We are so proud to be supporting serving and ex-members of the armed forces. This been a hugely successful collaboration so far and is just the start of a number of placements that will continue to benefit local communities, military police and Staffordshire Police.”

In August 2022, our Chief Constable, Chris Noble, (pictured with L/Cpl Turner and Cpl Smith), signed the covenant pledge, promising to ensure those who serve, or have served in the armed forces, and their families are treated fairly.

We encourage all organisations who haven’t signed the covenant to do so.

More information is available from: Armed Forces Covenant: guidance and support - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

To read more about the covenant and our commitment in Staffordshire, visit: Staffordshire Police commits to Armed Forces Covenant | Staffordshire Police

In 2023, we also signed an agreement with Veteran’s Aid to further support the Armed Force’s community. Read more about it here: Force pledges further support for veterans in need | Staffordshire Police