Books
When William ‘Bill’ Goodman died in 2002 little did his daughters know the extent of the memoirs he had been writing in the few years before his death.
Bill’s life, from joining the RAF in 1941 at the age of 18 to his demob in 1948, was fraught with adventure. He describes his service with 7 Squadron at Oakington; he then highlights the terrifying events of the night their Stirling was shot down over Holland, his subsequent incarceration at Stalag Luft 3, periods in other camps and, finally, the long debilitating march back home. All this with fascinating commentary, vivid description and the intimacy of his experience. The reader will meet his fellow airmen and POWs, the man who shot down their Stirling on that eventful night, the heroes of the Dutch resistance and, surprisingly, a kindly and caring guard in Stalag Luft 3!
A fascinating first-hand account of a young man’s wartime experience.
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Steve, The book is available on Amazon for $19.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0578086638/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?ref_=cm_sw_r_an_am_ap_am_us You can also purchase it from me directly for $18 by mailing a request to: CrabApple Books I can also be contacted via email at soalebm@yahoo.com I would be happy to mail the book with an invoice and the payment can be sent upon receipt. I will also sign it and inscribe it for people if they wish. I hope this helps and thank you for putting it on the website. Brandon |
In this entertaining and impressively extensive 940,00-word memoir, Stephen R Davies looks back on his eventful 25-year career in the RAF Police from 1975 to 2000, during which time he worked at various locations in the United Kingdom and overseas as far afield as Germany, Belize and Ascension Island.
In the course of his career Steve would be involved in a wide variety of police work, from basic guard and security duties to specialist criminal investigation and anti-drug operations. Along the way he would learn a great deal about police procedures, teamwork and personnel management, knowledge which was later put to good use when he became an instructor at RAF Police Training School.
Policing is, of course, serious work and this is reflected in much of the narrative, in which Steve details the challenges and problems he faced, both in fighting crime and maintaining good working relationships with colleagues, subordinates and superiors, which frequently called for all the inventiveness and ingenuity he could muster.
There are many lighter moments too, when Steve recalls some of the humorous situations he encountered in the line of duty and these are described with a mischievous sense of humour that is also evident the pranks and practical jokes that he and his colleagues were fond of playing on one another.
This book is, of course, highly recommended to any former RAF policemen, who will no doubt find within its pages much to remind them of their own experiences, while those who are young and inexperienced will find that it contains a great deal of valuable information and good advice.
But you do not have to be a policeman or even a military veteran to enjoy Steve’s articulate and amusing tales of his years in uniform, which contain plenty of entertainment value for readers of all ages and persuasions.
I have now republished my original book, 'Fiat Justitia - A History of the RAF Police' in e-format via Amazon Kindle. If you are interested you can see the details and read a preview of the book on this link.... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jusitia-History-Royal-Police-ebook/dp/B007D6IBNC/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330201242&sr=1-2
The e-book "ROYAL AIR FORCE POLICE - AT WAR" has been published to the Kindle Store and is already available for readers to purchase here:

RAF Police: The Great Escape Murders ISBN 1-84683-086-
By
Stephen R Davies COST £15-00
It
gives me great pleasure to inform you all that my new book is now on sale and
can be obtained direct from Woodfield Publishing. It is an account of the
official RAF Police investigation into the murders of 50 RAF POWs from Stalag
Luft III in 1944.
This book tells the remarkable story of the Great Escape
made by British, Commonwealth and Allied prisoners-of-
The wanted men from the Gestapo and Kriminalpolizei
(Criminal Police) who survived the war were swiftly hunted down in the chaos of
worn-torn Europe, rounded up as war criminals by the small but dedicated RAF
Police investigation team and later brought to justice in
Regrettably, a change in British government policy in 1948
prevented others who had been arrested by the RAF Police from being prosecuted
by the International War Crimes Tribunal and in most cases they walked away as
free men, in spite of the blood on their hands.
This remarkable war crimes investigation, the only one of
its kind entrusted to a British military police force, began at the end of
hostilities in 1945. Over 23 years later, in 1968, one of the last suspects in
the case was traced and convicted by a
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binding |
softback |
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page size |
205 x 290 mm |
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number of pages |
200 |
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illustrations |
b/w photos and sketches |
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Check out the link |
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http://www.woodfieldpublishing.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p311_great-escape-murders.html
HISTORY OF THE RAF POLICE BY STEPHEN R DAVIES

Since
1993 Stephen R Davies has been researching the complex history of the RAF Police
since its formation on
Steve is also currently working on a book about the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III in 1944, the murder of 50 re-captured RAF prisoners by the Gestapo and the RAF SIB investigation which hunted down the killers and brought many to justice. He is hoping to publish that together with the sequel to ‘Those Bloomin’ Snowdrops’ towards the end of 2009. After that date more books on the subject of the RAF Police will be offered for publication.
The books already published can be ordered direct from the publisher:
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Woodfield Publishing Limited, Woodfield House,
Tel:
01243 821234 Fax: 01243 821757
e-mail: info@woodfieldpublishing.co.uk
Website: www.woodfieldpublishing.co.uk
Steve served in the RAF Police between 1975 and 2000 and retired as a Flight Sergeant qualified in Special Investigations, Counter-Intelligence, and Instructional techniques. He completed the British Home Office detective training course with the Lancashire Constabulary and drug related courses with the Avon & Somerset Constabulary, the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Royal Navy.
The
RAF Police Association is currently trying to expand and recruit new members;
producing a further wealth of historical material on which to drawn from.
Indeed, can the other Service Police organisations recount their first 100 years
in such detail? The answer is ‘No’. The RAF Police however, are already on the
way to doing just that. If you can contribute anything to this unique history
then please send Steve your submission. It matters not whether you did National
Service or a full blown career so please contact me, you may hold an important
piece of this gigantic jigsaw that is indeed, the History of the Royal Air Force Police.
Stephen
R Davies
Casa da
Mó – Beco do Serradinho 2,
Trás do
Outeiro 2510-194, Óbidos, Portugal
Telephone and Fax:
00 351 262 95 9933
Mobile: 00 351 917
010 370
e-mail: steveguida@hotmail.com
RECENT CHANGES TO THE RAF POLICE
Recently the RAF Police have undergone a major realignment
in the way it supports global RAF tactical operations and joint military
manoeuvres. In 2005 the former RAF Provost & Security Services (P&SS),
located at RAF Henlow Bedfordshire, was renamed as the Headquarters Provost
Marshal (RAF). An officer of Air Commodore rank is appointed as Air Officer RAF
Police while the appointment of Provost Marshal is held by a provost Group
Captain. While the Air Commodore remains the figurehead of the branch, unlike
the Provost Marshal, he has no remit to investigate or influence criminal or
security matters.
Specialist Police Wing (SPW) now carries out the functions
previously undertaken by P&SS, and comprises three squadrons; RAF Special
Investigation Branch (SIB), Counter-Intelligence Squadron (CIS) and Security
Services Squadron (SSS). SSS is based at RAF Henlow with HQPM (RAF), along with
the command nucleus of the SIB and CIS, while SIB and CIS teams are established
at three dispersed UK units; HMS Caledonia (Scotland), RAF Cranwell (Lincoln)
and RAF Halton (Buckinghamshire) to provide specialist local support to RAF unit
commanders. RAF Police are also employed overseas with joint police and security
units in
My name is Stewart Gemmill. I've
just launched a website last month
The Hamburg Dossier |
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by John Law
The early days of the British occupation of Germany after World War II saw a rise in Black Market activities that often resulted in violence and even murder.
Sergeant Harry Penrose of the RAF Special Investigation Branch investigates a series of such murders with the tentative co-operation of the Hamburg Polizei. His investigation takes him into the seedy clip-joints and brothels of the notorious St Pauli area of Hamburg, but he is unable to bring the case to a successful conclusion.
Forty years later, after rising through the ranks of the Metropolitan Police with a 100% murder investigation success rate, and after a second career with a security company, Penrose returns to Hamburg with the intention of clearing the blot on his record.
He meets up again with two women who had been part of his earlier life and the now aged German investigator with whom he once worked.
Together they hope to set the record straight.
Author is our own John Law and it is available fromhttp://www.woodfieldpublishing.co.uk/
You may be interested in details of my new book. It is available from the publisher at a cost of £16 (UK). Many thanks in anticipation of your support ............ Steve
‘RAF POLICE -
ISBN
1-84683-019-2 By Stephen R
Davies This
informative book describes in detail the wide ranging operations undertaken by
units of the RAF Police from After
the formation of the RAF in 1918, members of the RAF Service Police were
deployed on RAF airfields in Written
by Stephen R Davies, who served with the RAF Police for 25 years this
informative book is illustrated with many photographs, and supported by many
first-hand accounts from former and serving members of the branch who were
stationed within the region at the time of those events. This easily readable
book is full of interesting facts and is certain to be of great interest to
those who served in the RAF Police. However, there is also much to be enjoyed by
anyone with a general interest in the RAF or modern military history and current
affairs.
Woodfield Publishing Limited, Woodfield House,
Tel: 01243 821234 Fax: 01243 821757
e-mail:
info@woodfieldpublishing.co.uk%20
Website: www.woodfieldpublishing.co.uk
When the remains of a Lancaster bomber and its crew were found in a river in Hannover in 1977 an investigation began that was to take over 25 years to complete...
At the time, the author, Bryan Clark, was in charge of the SIB of the RAF Police in Germany and his initial investigations in the line of duty led him to the discovery that the squadron to which the missing aircraft had belonged - No 619, based at RAF Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire - had all but disappeared from history. It did not even have a squadron crest in the RAF Club [having lost so many airmen and Commanding Officers that nobody ever got around to designing one.]
It struck Bryan that the story of these valiant young airmen, who had perished so far from home in the service of their country, should not go unrecorded and he determined to discover everything he could about the seven crewmembers who had perished in this particular Lancaster - EE109 PG-F - and to record their story for posterity.
His researches led him to all sorts of unexpected discoveries, including the identity of the teenage German anti-aircraft gunner (now an elderly former professor) whose flak battery had shot the aircraft down. But as well as recording the story of the crew of EE109, Bryan also meticulously gathered statistics about every aircraft and every crewmember lost by 619 squadron and many other details about the squadron's activities throughout the war. These too were added to the narrative to make an impressive volume of 97,000 words telling the entire squadron history.
Thanks to Bryan's efforts No 619 is no longer a forgotten squadron and can at last take its place with honour alongside its many World War Two counterparts. - order through http://www.woodfieldpublishing.com/
RAF POLICE OPERATIONS IN EUROPE 1918 - 2005 by Steve Davies - full details of how to order

Review by John Curtis:
On Saturday I received Steve Davies’s latest book, ‘RAF Police Operations in Europe 1918 – 2006’ for entry into the RAF Police Association Archives.
I have not been able to put the book down and have read all 264 pages over the weekend. Having served for 22 years I thought I knew a lot about the branch but I have learnt a lot from this publication.
It is a well crafted book, well researched, full of facts, and information on personalities we have either met or heard about. This is supported by number of anecdote submitted by former, and serving, members of the branch.
Well done Steve a book well worth reading.
If any serving, or ex members of the RAFP, are not sure what to have as a surprise Christmas present this year then say you want this book from Woodfield Publishing at Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 5EL (www.woodfieldpublishing.com)
‘HALT OR I'LL RELEASE MY DOG
RAF POLICE DOGS ON PATROL’
By Stephen R Davies
At the start of 2005 the RAF Police had been working with dogs for 60 years and during that time the relationship has been a very special one. Chances are, if you told anyone you were in the RAF Police they would invariably want to know all about your police dog, assuming that every member of the branch is issued with one on appointment; such is their notoriety.
In 1942, at the height of World War II, Lieutenant Colonel Baldwin formed the Ministry of Aircraft Production Guard Dog School (MAPGDS) at Woodfold near Gloucester, turning out professionally trained RAF dog handlers which in turn released hundreds of men for war duties who had previously been employed as guards. In 1944 the MAPGDS was absorbed by the RAF Police and re-titled as the RAF Police Dog Training School.
In 1949, the RAF Police Dog Demonstration Team appeared for the first time at the Royal Tournament in London and became an instant public success. In 1957 the first annual RAF Police Dog Championship Trials were held at Netheravon. In 1969 the Dog Demonstration Team covered 8,000 miles around the USA and Canada giving 65 public performances in 23 cities and became a favourite at every venue. The RAF began training dogs to detect illicit drugs in 1970 and later trained dogs to detect firearms and explosives. Soon after, HM Customs & Excise began using RAF Police drug detection dogs against smugglers. In 1991, in line with defence reviews, RAF Police dog training merged with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps at Melton Mowbray and the Defence Animal Centre was formed.
The life of a RAF Police dog handler may seem glamorous, but in reality the job demands a lot. The men and women who volunteer, do so because they love the challenge of working with dogs even though a considerable amount of their time is given up to the training and welfare of their charges. In 60 years, the RAF Police have earned a glowing reputation both at home and abroad for their high standard of training dog teams and for their highly professional use of dogs for patrol duties as well as in specialist roles. RAF Police dogs on loan to HM Customs & Excise have since 1971 recovered illicit drugs with a value of many millions of pounds and represent the smuggler's worst nightmare.
This is the first time that the story of RAF Police dogs has been told and will be of interest to anyone interested in military history; RAF history; police-work; the training of dogs for police and security operations, or anyone who is merely fond of dogs. The author served with the RAF Police for 25 years and was frequently responsible for the overall management of dog sections under his control.
I am now looking towards getting my next book 'RAF Police Operations in Europe' ready for publication next year. After that, I have 3 more books being prepared which will tell the story of RAF Police Operations in; Africa - Cyprus east through to Afghanistan - Pakistan east through to the Atlantic Islands. The master document 'Snowdrops - 100 Years of the RAF Police' (already over 1,000 A4 pages of text alone) will hopefully continue towards 2018, when I hope it will be accepted by the RAF Police as an historical account of their first rather impressive century in being.
Steve Davies
Casa da Mó - Beco do Serradinho 2, Tras do Outeiro, 2510-194 Obidos, Portugal
Tel: +351 262 95 9933 or mobile +351 917 010 370
"TOGETHER UP THERE" by Victor Possé
Represents my History of No. 549 Fighter Squadron RAF in Northern Australia, The Squadron comprised RAF pilots ex-234 Squadron who had been shipped out from England in the “QUEEN MARY”, and RAAF ground crew and administrative staff posted from all points of the compass, and was one of three which comprised No.1 Fighter Wing (also known as the ‘Churchill Wing’) in the defence of Darwin and northern Australia. It had been formed in Lawnton, Q in late 1943, and, and was subsequently disbanded in Queensland at the end of the war in the Pacific.
A Birds Eye View From The Ground by Frank Authers
Webmaster's review. I have read this book and it's an excellent read from cover to cover. Not just those who are snowdrops but anyone with an interest in the RAF from just before the war and for 25 years after. Please contact Frank and order it - I know you will enjoy it - Steve
Review:
A couple of
weeks ago, Steve C put us in touch with a book written by an ex - RAF Chiefy -
Frank Authers. During last weekend I took the opportunity to finish reading my
copy and I enjoyed it immensely.
One of the things that I have found most enjoyable about
this Royalwings group, is that its crew room covers a wider spectrum of RAF life
than the squadron and aircraft servicing personnel crew rooms, that I
experienced whilst I was getting my 12 years in. For a start the Padre never
visited ours, whereas now he is 'resident' as also are our MT chaps, Fairies who
had their own 'aloof' little hideaways to check out Sara(h), Blacksmiths banging
on, or Clerks Sec and Admin (P1 & P2?), let alone a Clerk Accts. We
certainly never had or even saw a Snowdrop - even in early Spring, and
Photogs were here and
gone in the blink of a shutter. From this point of view, we were 'deprived.,'
and our present scope has added greatly to the enjoyment, probably of most of
us who actually needed and aircraft to work on to achieve a degree of job
satisfaction. We now have the missing input, though I think we still lack a
chef. Frank Authers contribution to the book scene benefits from him having seen
and experienced life as a Squadron bod, as well as that of a Snowdrop, with
pretty well all that a Policeman's lot encompassed. It is a great and humorous
read, a story told without wasting words (Andy has noted), and also having been
written pre - Iraq war time, contains precursory humorous
remarks concerning our
immediate neighbours across The English Channel, that probably set the trend for
at least some of those disparaging remarks made more recently by others. They
are remarks made without rancour, at which the
reader would laugh out
loud! Simplicity seems to have been the key operative word of Frank's writing -
as simple as A,B,C..... as Doug Tidy would say. It is a very refreshing change
too to read a book written no of an aircrew war, but of a ground crew war, and
in support all of all that took place in the air. Frank, clearly enjoyed his 30
years of service and yet there is an underlining poignancy in the passage
relating to his return to Civvy Street.
He took with him a very positive attitude and
applied himself to making a business out of what had been for quite some years a
'major interest' in buying and selling cars. He appears also to have met with
some success in that direction too...... hardly surprising for a man of wide
experience in dealing with many different peoples in many different countries.
His book is a great read, and I have copied a 'flyer' and attached it, so that
everyone has the same chance to get a copy whilst there are still sufficient
supplies available. It is a great read and a 'must' for anyone
who has served in the
RAF.
Cheers,
Andy
I second
that one hundred percent Andy. I too, have read Frank's book
and it is
excellent. A great read. When I started it I pretty well
went right through
without putting it down. I recommend it as a good
read for all of the
Wingers.
FIAT JUSTITIA - A HISTORY OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
POLICE
By Stephen R Davies
The Royal Air Force Police formed on the 1st April 1918, at the birth of the RAF and has developed a colourful history along the way to becoming the large organisation of today. Over the years many books have been written about the RAF in general and its various flying squadrons. However, until now nothing had ever been published about the history of the Royal Air Force Police which at the end of World War II, had 21,000 men and women within its ranks.
The book comprises 9 informative chapters complimented with
34 photographs
Synopsis of Each Chapter
Chapter 1 - The Origins of the Provost - This chapter briefly
relates the history of the Provost Marshal from the 13th century to the turn of
this century when the RAF was formed. In 1629 King Charles I, issued his
`Articles of War' which described the role of his Provost Marshal. During the
Peninsular Wars, the Provost Marshal, serving under the Duke of Wellington, was
granted extensive and somewhat harsh powers of punishing soldiers committing
acts of indiscipline. In 1855, the Corps of Military Mounted Police was formed
at Aldershot and the Corps of Military Foot Police were later formed to enforce
military orders and regulations.
Chapter 2 - Formation of the RAF (1918 - 1939) - Using as a background,
the uneasy political situation in Europe between the wars and the struggle to
retain the RAF as a viable entity, this chapter describes the formation of the
RAF Police, the early training school and the Special Investigation Branch.
After years of being controlled by a series of `caretaker' directors, the first
dedicated RAF Provost Marshal was appointed by the Air Ministry in 1931 to
organise the development of the branch. In 1936, during the build-up to the
second World War, a Nazi spy was arrested at Harwich and later convicted on the
evidence supplied by the RAF Police SIB regarding his clandestine activities in
and around RAF stations in Kent and East Anglia.
Chapter 3 - The War Years (1939 - 1945 - Using wartime events as
the main theme, this chapter describes the rapid growth of the RAF Police and
the introduction of their white caps and webbing equipment. During the early
part of the war, thirteen geographical `District Headquarters' were formed
within the UK and police dogs were introduced into service, when the branch took
over control of the Ministry of Aircraft Production Guard Dog Training School.
Prior to D Day, specially selected and trained RAF Police & Security Units
were formed which later supported the Allied invasion and subsequent liberation
of Europe. Finally, the events concerning the brutal murder, by the Gestapo, of
50 re-captured RAF officers, following their €˜Great Escape€™ from Stalag Luft
III, is described along with the early events which lead to the major
investigation carried out by the RAF Police SIB after the war into the
circumstances.
Chapter 4 - The Post War Years (1945 - 1950) - Using post war colonial
unrest as a background, this chapter describes how before the wartime
demobilisation started, the establishment of the branch had reached a record 500
commissioned officers and 20,000 non-commissioned ranks. In the UK the District
Headquarters were reduced from thirteen to six and for the first time,
commissioned officers acting as Assistant Provost Marshals, were officially
appointed into the Provost Branch. In Singapore the first native RAF Police
Auxiliary Force was formed and in occupied Germany, following the successful RAF
Police investigation, the Nazi defendants, accused of murdering the 50 RAF
officers from Stalag Luft III, were convicted at their `war crimes' trial in
Hamburg. In 1948, the RAF Police Dog Demonstration Team appeared for the first
time at the Royal Tournament and instantly won over the hearts and minds of the
public. As a result of the largest ever Allied humanitarian airlift and the
formation of NATO, the Soviet Union lifted their blockade of West
Berlin.
Chapter 5 - The Cold War (1950 - 1959) - This chapter describes
the development of the `Cold War' and the troubles in Egypt, Kenya and Cyprus.
As the RAF Police took over responsibility for security matters within the RAF,
the regional policing aspect, under the control of the Provost Marshal, was
re-titled as the RAF Provost & Security Service. In addition, RAF Police
formations around the world were re-organised into the `District Headquarters'
system. The RAF Police School moved to RAF Netheravon and was re-titled as the
RAF Police Depot and the RAF Police Museum was established. Air Cdre de Putron
retired after nine years as the Provost Marshal and Lt Col Baldwin retired as
the Chief Training Officer (Dogs). In the UK, six RAF Police Volunteer Reserve
Flights were formed and at the start of 1953, RAF Police re-enforcements were
called upon to assist the civil authorities in dealing with wide spread chaos on
the East coast following severe weather conditions and flooding. In France RAF
Police NCOs were established to join the multi-national military police unit
providing security at the NATO Headquarters. In Egypt, an RAF Police NCO was
killed and his partner was seriously injured during a shoot out with terrorists
and at RAF Manston, another RAF Police NCO and two other airmen were shot dead
by an American serviceman who went berserk with a rifle. Finally, having taken
over responsibility for protecting the RAF nuclear deterrent, RAF Police were
established on Christmas Island prior to the British nuclear tests being
conducted there.
Chapter 6 - The End of an Empire (1959 - 1968) - As the British Empire
started to shrink, the RAF Police Depot moved from Netheravon to RAF Debden and
the training syllabus was widened to take on board the newly established
Counter-Intelligence, Nuclear Security and Travel Control Security tasks being
undertaken world-wide. RAF Police were involved for the first time in recruiting
duties while a large number of their colleagues were kept increasingly busy as
the Movement for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) increased their
protest activity. As National Service in the British Forces ended, the RAF
Police `Village Constable' system of policing was introduced to make up for the
shortfall in the overall establishment. The `Annual Working Dog Trials' were
introduced for all UK Dog Sections and as the Berlin Wall was constructed,
Checkpoint Charlie in the British sector of West Berlin was built and manned by
both Military and RAF Police. In Cyprus, which had been granted independence,
RAF Police were attached to the UN Peace Keeping Force and two British Sovereign
Base Areas were formed and a new civilian police force was authorised to police
them. However, because of initial manning problems, RAF Police NCOs were
attached to the force to run it until sufficient recruits could be engaged and
trained to carry out the task. In Aden, the RAF Police were stretched to full
capacity as violent terrorist activity increased at an alarming rate and at RAF
Changi, RAF Police NCOs acted as Customs and Immigration Officers on behalf of
the Singapore Government.
Chapter 7 - Fifty Years and Beyond (1968 -
1985) - 1968 marked the Golden Anniversary for the RAF and it's
police force and the formation of the RAF P&SS Support Squadron and the
sentencing of Chief Technician Britten to nineteen years imprisonment for
espionage. During this period, HRH The Princess Margaret carried out the first
Royal Review of the RAF Police at RAF Debden and RAF Police dogs were trained in
the detection of dangerous drugs. RAF Police assisted the RAF pilots through the
London traffic to the starting point of the Daily Mail transatlantic race. The RAF Police Dog Demonstration Team
toured Canada and America with the Parachute Regiment and as the troubles in
Northern Ireland increased, RAF Police NCOs were detached onto the strength of
Royal Military Police units, to assist them in policing the province. The RAF
Police School moved again from Debden to RAF Newton and HQ P&SS(UK) was
honoured with the award of a unit badge. The P&SS Support Squadron provided
security protection for HRH The Prince Andrew during helicopter pilot training
and the IRA planted a bomb at RAF Uxbridge. In 1982, the UK went to war with
Argentina who had invaded the Falkland Islands and RAF Police in Cyprus helped
to evacuate foreign refugees from Beruit. The CND set up their peace camp at RAF
Greenham Common and RAF P&SS Germany was awarded the Wilkinson Sword of
Peace. Computer security methods were introduced onto the training syllabus and
the RAF Police assisted with the humanitarian relief in famine stricken
Ethiopia.
Chapter 8 - Thawing of the Cold War (1985 -
1989) - During the four years which witnessed the thawing of the
Cold War and the collapse of communism and the Warsaw Pact, the RAF Police
launched an investigation into the fire which destroyed the Headquarters of RAF
Support Command near Huntingdon. RAF Police re-enforcements were flown into
Gibraltar and Cyprus as the US Air Force launched an attack on Libya and as a
consequence of the Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984, the Service Police
Codes of Practice were introduced. The branch was fully vindicated following an
independent enquiry into allegations that RAF Police investigators mistreated
suspects in the `Cyprus Spy' investigation and to assist in combating the
ever-growing problem of drug abuse in the RAF, Drug Intelligence Teams were
established. Following the channel ferry `Herald of Free Enterprise' disaster, a
number of RAF Police NCOs were attached to the investigation team to assist with
the identification of victims. In the Falkland Islands the Joint Service Police
& Security Unit was formed and on the European mainland, the IRA started one
of their bloodiest campaigns against British servicemen and their families.
Finally, one of the longest RAF Police close protection operations ended when
HRH Prince Fiscal of Jordan completed his flying training with the RAF.
Chapter 9 - A Time for Change (1989 - 1997) - As the governments'
defence cuts took effect, Iraq attacked Kuwait and in response the forces of the
coalition launched `Operation Desert Storm' to liberate it. In Florida, RAF
Police NCO's provided the security protection for two NATO satellites prior to
their launch from the NASA Space Centre. With the formation of the Defence
Animal Centre at Melton Mowbray under Army control, independent dog training by
the RAF ceased and shortly after the much loved RAF Police Dog Demonstration
Team was disbanded. As the civil war in former Yugoslavia developed, RAF Police
NCOs were tasked with carrying out Air Transport Security duties at several
airheads in the region. In the UK, the RAF P&SS regional headquarters were
re-organised and increased from three geographical areas to five. As part of the
cost cutting exercise, the three separate service security organisations were
merged to form the MOD Security Directorate and the RAF Provost Marshal left
London and re-located at RAF Rudloe Manor with the new title of Air Officer
Security & Provost Marshal (RAF) & Chief of Air Force Police before
moving on again soon after to the Headquarters of Strike Command. As the RAF
Police completed the task of training military and Air Force Police NCO's from
Zimbabwe, the news was released that the RAF Police and RAF Regiment would not
be amalgamated and that the RAF Police would take over running the guardrooms on
RAF stations once again. Finally, the RAF Police School moved once again back to
RAF Halton where it originally formed in 1920.
How to Order
As a result of the original publisher going into
liquidation in early 2002, 'Fiat Justitia“ A History of the RAF Police is no
longer available for sale in hard form. However, it is still available on CD for
you to read directly from your PC or to print off your own hard copy.
This unique book on CD retails for:
£10-00p (incl P&P) within the UK, € 16-00
(incl P&P) within the Euro zone,
or
£11-00p (incl P&P) to other locations outside the
UK,
and can be purchased by sending your order together with a
sterling cheque or bankers draft made out to Stephen R Davies to:
Stephen R Davies
Beco do Serradinho 2
Tras do Outeiro
2510 Obidos
PORTUGAL
History of No. 549 (F) Squadron RAF in Northern Australia
"999 OFFICER DOWN: The Russ Reiker Story" - click on the title for full details of this interesting book