History Of The Naval Police

Officers of the Military Police play a critical role in the Military Justice System, including protecting the reputation of the ADF and ensuring discipline and order is maintained at sea and ashore.  

And it is a cohort of professionals that have a long history protecting our shores, borders, and people.  

Leading Seaman Coxswain Ian Strike explain how the Light Detection and Ranging laser speed measuring device works - Image Department of Defence

A NEW NAVAL FORCE EMERGES  

When the Commonwealth acquired the Cockatoo Island Dockyard from the NSW Government in 1913, it set in motion a need for a new dockyard protection force. And, in July 1913, the Royal Australian Navy established the first Naval Police Force in Australia.  

The Naval Dockyard Police (NDP), as they were known, started as 40 members – after a series of advertisements appeared in Australia’s daily newspapers inviting ex-serving members of the Royal Navy, Marines and Australian Navy to apply for the new ‘Force’.  

Portrait of Naval Police at Port Melbourne Naval Depot, July 1919. Image - Australian War Memorial

In their early years, they overcame obstacles including finding their own identity, developing a satisfactory uniform and conditions of service, and in 1921 all Naval Dockyard Policemen in the Sydney area were sworn in, giving them all police powers of arrest, search and detention under State Acts and Regulations.   

Their roles evolved again in 1940 when the NDP were granted approval to form the Guard Section of the force. Any recruits for this section had to have served on Active Service. The NDP played an important role during Australia’s war effort during WWII with more than 600 members employed on guarding duties at wireless transmitting stations, armament depots, oil fuel installations, dockyards, naval stores depots and even points of vulnerability like the Victoria Markets. 

Prior to the disbandment of the Guard Section, an ‘Interim Force’ was established on 29 July 1946. The Interim Force had an approved complement of 272 and its members were recruited from ex-RAN members aged between 21 and 45, creating a more virile and active deterrent to “black marketeers and other ill-disposed persons”. 

TIME SERVED BRINGS ABOUT CHANGE  

It was in 1972 that the Force experienced one of its biggest changes since it first began. On 21 January, the NDP became an official branch of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), with members earning the title of ‘Naval Police’ and reintroducing ranks and titles ranging from Constable to Chief Superintendent. While their RAN peers wore gold rank insignia, Naval Police wore silver with a simple round badge with a St James Crown and the words Naval Police encircling an Admiralty Anchor.  

Members of the Australian Military Police (Army & Navy) - Image Department of Defence

Change once again propelled the force forward in 1983 when female applicants were welcomed for the first time and by 1986 there were 16 Officers and 366 police men and women employed in physical security, fire protection and investigation functions as well as a police dog squad at HMAS Albatross to protect the airfield and aircraft.   

More than 100 years after the first Naval Police officers started their work, all military policing units combined and collectively became known as Military Police, with uniforms, vehicles and procedures all reflecting a unified force.  

*Peter Boyes OAM acknowledges the historical work done by Commander Peter Mangan RAN - the last officer to achieve the rank of Superintendent Naval Police. This article is an edited version of CMDR Mangan's original paper.

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