Joining the RAF Police
Joining the RAF Police
Steven Williams was hoping to become a RAF Policeman and sought the advice of members. With a couple of exceptions who were either past or present RAFP, he was given so much negative feedback that I decided to apply for membership and use my first posting to dispel some of the myths that were bantered about.
'You will spend your time on gate duty or hauling a dog.' - When you finish your training you will be expected to carry out menial tasks as, apparently unlike the other trades in the RAF who appear to become 'instant experts' on completion of their training, you will still have a lot to learn. I spent the first couple of years counting the rivets on V-bombers whilst standing under them, raising and lowering barriers and walking the wire, but they never gave me a dog. However, I progressed to provost duties, anti-vice and eventually to special investigation duties where I spent the majority of my service.
'You will be hated by the rest.' - It goes with the job and seems to worry the rest more than the RAFP. There were many who hated me , mainly those who I put where the sun didn't shine on them, but I never lost any sleep over it. This is not unique to the Service. The same applies to civvy street, mainly from the villainous elements who fear that the police would put an end to their criminal activities.
'Join a proper police force.' - During my service I attended the Home Office Detective Training course and the Home Office Scenes of Crime and Fingerprinting course. I carried out major inquiries into homocide, rape, serious assaults, high value thefts, fraud and aircraft sabotage. As a SNCO I was the lead investigator in these cases which in the 'proper police' would have been controlled by a DCI upwards. I carried out joint enquiries with RMP/SIB, CID of both Home Office and non-Home Office forces, foreign police forces, both military and civil, and the Customs and Excise Branch. Although there were plenty of letters of appreciation from these organizations there was never any criticism of my professionalism.
'Choose a trade you can utilize in later life.' - When my time in the RAF ended I established a Security Consultancy/Investigation Agency. I was on the Board of Governors of the Institute of Professional Investigators and members of the Association of British Investigators, The Council of International Investigators and the American Society of Industrial Security. I created a client base of blue chip firms in the City and some well-known personalities. Most important of all, I made a shed-load of money which is allowing me to have an opulent lifestyle with no financial worries and the knowledge that when I go there will be plenty left for my grandchildren.
I am not unique. There is a host of ex-RAFP who are, or were, in the highest realms of the security industry. One of the best known is the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner, the Lord Imbert. I first met Peter Imbert when he was a DCS at Thames Valley and still meet with him frequently. He is very proud to have started his career as a RAF Police corporal.
So S.W. go for it. You will be joining a profession that well outdates all the other trades in the RAF, with the exception of the Regiment, and also all the 'proper' police forces. The Articles of War issued by Charles I in 1629 states:- 'The Provost must have a horse allowed him and some soldiers to attend him, and all the rest commanded to obey and assist or else the Service will suffer, for he is one man and must correst many, and therefore he cannot be beloved. And he must be riding from one Garrison to another, to see the soldiers do no outrage nor scath the country.'
The advantage that our predecessors had was that they had the power to hang the miscreants.