The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) is 'Proud to
Serve', remaining strong, delivering for defence and the
communities it serves.
As we all continue to confront the Coronavirus pandemic, the
biggest challenge the UK (and indeed the world) has faced in
decades, the MDPresponse remains strong,
delivering for defence and the communities it serves whilst
playing its part in implementing new policing powers, in a
rapidly changing landscape.
Initial response to a national emergency
When the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe during the
early part of the year, with a national lockdown that commenced
on 23 March, the MDPGold Cell and Strategic
Command Group, led by ACC Dave Long and ACC Andrea Bishop, pushed
forward at pace with putting into practice robust business
continuity plans.
The priority was, and remains, to protect all MDP personnel and their
families, whilst ensuring that the MDP continues to operate
effectively and efficiently throughout the crisis.
Whether in the workplace, deployed operationally or working from
home, the dedication and resilience of all departments and team
members across the Force has ensured the ongoing delivery of
essential MDP outputs.
This was recognised by CC Andy Adams, on 26 March, just three
days into the national lockdown, when he said:
As we all adapt to a new way of life and new ways of working, I
want to say a huge thank you to all MDP colleagues who
continue to deliver for defence and remain focused on the
safety of the communities that we serve.
An unprecedented role for policing
In frontline roles, MDP officers are playing
their part, alongside colleagues in other forces, to ensure the
safety of the public by using a four-phased approach to engage,
explain, encourage and, only as a last resort, enforce policing
powers under the Coronavirus Act 2020.
The MDP has been pleased to
see most people acting responsibly and doing the right thing, by
following government guidance on social distancing. However,
there have been some challenges, particularly during previous
unseasonably good weather and recent Bank Holiday weekends, where
extra patrols and reinforced messaging have been required.
The next phase
As we have now moved into the next phase of controlling
coronavirus, the MDP will continue to
police by consent, using common sense and discretion to determine
what is reasonable, and only enforce as a last resort.
In this together
Despite the challenges that we all face, a constant throughout
the crisis has been the mantra that we’re ‘in this together’, in
a national effort to fight the virus, and that has been clear to
see by the MDP workforce, both in
and outside the wire.
In joined up working with policing and security partners and in
engagement with stakeholders, Defence personnel, and members of
the public, a collective sense of positive support, empathy and
compassion has outweighed negativity. That sentiment has, of
course, also been expressed tangibly in all the wonderful rainbow
pictures and window messages MDPofficers have seen and,
during the weekly Clap for Our Carers, when the Force has joined
the nation to clap and sound its sirens to say thank you to
the NHS, carers
and all key workers for everything they have done and everything
they continue to do.
Visit the GOV.UK Coronavirus page.
COVID-19 Hub: College of
Policing
