Ministry of Defence Police Agency (Hansard, 26 April 2001)

§ Dr. Moonie

The quinquennial review (QQR) of the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) will begin in April 2001. The review will examine the role, operations and organisation of the MDP with a view to establishing the requirement for its services in the future, and how these can best be delivered.

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Work to prepare for the QQR has already begun. This has principally involved canvassing the views of the MDP's customers about its effectiveness, and gathering other information with which to assess the MDP's performance since it became an agency in April 1996. Stage one of the QQR will address three fundamental questions: to what extent is there a continuing requirement for the services currently provided by the MDP; how far could organisations other than the MDP contribute to meeting those future requirements; and, if a continuing requirement for MDP services is confirmed, what organisational configuration should it have. If continued agency status is confirmed, the second stage of the QQR will develop more detailed proposals for continuing improvements in performance and quality of service delivery.

The MDP is by no means the only organisation involved in providing policing and security services to the MOD. The review will therefore examine its interface with other practitioners (including Service police forces) to ensure that the MDP operates in a 'joined up' way with them, focusing in particular on the scope for partnership-working and the spread of best practice. It will also examine the way the relationship between the MDP and other UK police forces is evolving.

I expect to see advice arising from stage one of the review in the summer, and from stage two, if pursued, in the autumn.

The review team will consult widely with all stakeholders, including customer organisations, the MDP management team, Agency staff, the Defence Police Federation, Civil Service trades unions, other police forces, and the relevant policy staffs in MOD, the Home Office, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Treasury and the Cabinet Office. The MOD is also keen to hear the views of other organisations or individuals with an interest. These can be sent to the MDP QQR Team, Room 4113, MOD Main Building, London, SW1A 2HB.