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OPM-A (2006)

Office of the Provost Marshal – Army (OPM-A)

R8-02-042

Russell Office

Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: (02) 6265 3504

Fax: (02) 6265 1566

E-mail: AHQ-Provost Marshal-Army

Background on creation of OPM-A

Located within Directorate Personnel Operations - Army, the Provost Marshal - Army reports to Commander Career Management Agency, for routine and administrative matters. The Chief of Army's Senior Advisory Committee endorsed this move in August 2004 as a result of an independent review into the Military Police Investigative Capability by Ernst and Young. The implementation of some of the recommendations of the review is the main effort for the PM-A this year.
Additionally, the PM-A is responsible for the provision of strategic level policing advice to CA, acting as the Head Defence Investigative Authority (HDIA) for Army and exercising technical control over all DIA investigations conducted by Army. The PM-A has technical control over all MP, in particular national tasking of military police investigators (ECN 190) and advice on detention centres (delegated to COMDT DPTC). The PM-A is also responsible to CA for provision of strategic Military Policing analysis and advice, Technical operation of the Military Police Central Records Office (MPCRO), and Management of external agency requests (e.g. FOI & CRA).

 The PM-A will continue to develop effective practices and procedures for the maintenance of service discipline with unit commanders, 1 MP Bn and DPTC. This will ensure that Army continues to receive the best possible support from its limited MP assets.

Current Projects

Radar – Numerous attempts by this office to obtain an update from the SO1 Army Minor Projects regarding our submission to replace the Falcon Radar have gone unanswered. Wait out.

Project Williams – An update will be supplied in an article from the PM-A.

PM-A Website – See the link above, the site contains some valuable information and access to most policing related manuals and instructions. Currently, planning is being conducted to have all current CTN's scanned and available electronically on this site. We are looking for a variety of RACMP photos so as to update the current view. If you have electronic photo's suitable for the site, please contact OPM-A OPS SGT.

Defence Instruction (Army) 183-1 The Royal Australian Corps of Military Police - Was released in 20 May 1994. Since that time there have been numerous changes to the Defence and Army environment. Consequently, the OPM-A are currently preparing a proposal to amend the Defence Instruction to reflect these changes and better explain the roles and functions of RACMP within Army.

Other significant issues have been the ongoing development of relationships with all defence stakeholders such as Directorate of Military Justice, Office of Director of Military Prosecutions and our Service Police colleagues. OPM-A would like invite ARES support from any ARES members who may be in a position to take on a project and work from their home locality. Application should be made through your chain of command and then directed to the PM-A.

One of the key achievements of the OPM-A this year would be Project Williams, the majority of the other matters have been incident management, although a number of other issues have been resolved.

These are some of the project and activities OPM-A are currently working on, updates on these and other activities will be given in future editions of the Pointsman.

Events during 2006

b>PM-A RMP Visit – Over the period 20 – 22 Jul 06, the PM-A RMP visited Australia; this was to commemorate the alliance between RACMP and RMP.

Opening of the Police Memorial Canberra – On Fri 29 Sep 06 the Prime Minister John Howard opened the Police Memorial in Kings Park in Canberra with all police agencies Australia wide in represented, including Australian Protective Service. Noted absences were the Defence representation from the Service Police.

The OPM-A would like to thank all RACMP personnel for their support. In particular the contribution to our sanity made by Jodie Archer from MPCRO and all the members of 5 MP Coy (SIB).

On behalf of the PM-A and staff, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support over the year. We wish you and your families a safe and joyous Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

‘FOR THE TROOPS AND WITH THE TROOPS'