History of DPTC
Military Police (MP) individual training has been delivered by an independent unit since 1968. Between 1964 and 1968 MP individual training was delivered by the Eastern Command Provost Company located at South Head, Sydney. Prior to 1964 MP individual training was delivered on an ad hoc basis within the various Provost Companies.
In 1968, the Royal Australian Army Provost Corps Training Centre was approved and established at Gallipoli Lines, Holsworthy. In January 1974, the Provost Training Centre was renamed the MP School and relocated to Ingleburn to form part of the MP Complex (co-located with 2 MP Coy and 1st Military Correction Establishment). This coincided with the retitling of the Royal Australian Army Provost Corps to the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police (RACMP). The MP Complex was opened as Coral Lines by the Colonel Commandant RACMP, Major General C.M.I. Pearson, AO, DSO, OBE, MC in June 1974.
On 12 June 1983, Coral Lines was renamed to Lamia Lines. 'Lamia' being a small town in Greece through which the 16th Australian Infantry Brigade, 7th Australian Division conducted a fighting withdrawal in April 1941. During this action MP performed their duties under fire with the courage and professionalism to which all MP should strive. It was during this action that Captain J. W. Grimshaw, Australian Army Provost Corps, was awarded the Military Cross for leadership and bravery.
In December 1989, the MP Complex was renamed the MP Centre. On 13 April 1992, the MP Centre units, including the Defence Force Corrective Establishment (DFCE), the Directorate of Military Police (DMP), HQ Army Special Investigations Branch (SIB) Unit, 2 MP Coy and MP School relocated to Green Hills, Liverpool Military Area. The MP Centre was opened as Lamia Barracks by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Major General A. J. Fittock, AO on 1 July 1992.
The Naval Police was merged with the Coxswains Branch in the early nineties and the Security and Naval Police Coxswains School moved into new quarters at the MP Centre. Previosly, Naval Police had been trained at HMAS Penguin Garden Island where the Naval Police Training School was located.
Prior to 1972 the Naval police had been named Naval Dockyard Police. The NDP had been formed in July 1913 to take over guarding and policing duties at Garden Island, Spectacle Island and Royal Edward Victualling yard. Until 1923 the NDP were civilians at which time they became members of the RAN Auxiliary. In 1934 they became a full Statutory Body and in 1940 they took over the security protection of all Naval Establishments from the RAN and RANVR.
In February 1994, as a consequence of the 1993 Review into the RACMP, the Army SIB Unit was disbanded, the MP Central Records Office (MPCRO) formed part of DMP and the MP School SIB Training Section was retitled the Investigations Training Section.
On 16 December 1996, DFCE was transferred from the Base Logistic Sub-Program to Training Command - Army (TC-A) and was incorporated within the MP School.
On 1 July 1997, as a consequence of the Restructuring the Army Program DMP was transferred to TC-A. On 1 December 1997, DMP elements combined with the MP School (including DFCE) to form the Military Police Training Centre (MPTC).
On 15 December 1997, the Commandant (COMDT) MPTC was appointed as the Provost Marshal-Army (PM-A) by the Deputy Chief of the Army. MPCRO and the ACT MP Det remain under command to assist with the performance of PM-A responsibilities.
On 6 January 1999, the MPTC was renamed the Army Military Police Training Centre (AMPTC).
In Jan 2001 the 1st Military Police Battalion was formed and the MPCRO was transferred to the Battalion to provide criminal investigative records support..
On 27 June 2003 AMPTC joined with SNPCS (Security and Naval Police Coxswain School) to form the Defence Police Training Centre.
The Defence Police Training Centre (DPTC) is located at Lamia Barracks, Green Hills Road, Green Hills, Liverpool Military Area. The DPTC shares Lamia Barracks with the 2nd Military Police Company (2 MP Coy) and 1 Sect 52 Military Police Platoon (SIB), both from 1 MP Bn.