The Military Police are responsible for the prevention and investigation of offences, the enforcement of discipline and the general policing of the Defence Forces. In wartime, additional tasks include the provision of a traffic control organisation to allow rapid movement of military formations to their mission areas. Other wartime roles include control of prisoners of war and refugees. Traditionally, the Military Police have also considerable involvement at state and ceremonial occasions.
In recent years the Military Police have been deployed on many UN missions including in the former Yugoslavia (SFOR).
They also enjoy a very close working relationship with An Garda Síochána at national and local levels. An Garda Síochána assist in providing specialist police training to the Military Police in the field of crime investigation.
In line with the Military Police School strategic vision, Corps specific training courses are conducted for members of the Irish Military Police Corps in order “to assist the Provost Marshal in the maintenance of a well trained, motivated, functional and professional Military Police Corps.
The Military Police School cooperates closely with Government Agencies and Departments involved in all aspects of Crime Detection and Prevention such as:
- The State Pathologist Office
- The Garda Technical Bureau
- The Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation
- The Garda Drugs Unit
- The Forensic Science Laboratory
- Customs and Excise
- The Revenue Commissioners
- The Irish Prison Service
The Military Police School regularly maintains its status as an internationally recognised Centre of Excellence by updating its own Doctrinal Subject Matter and Knowledge through participation in Foreign Military Police Courses and through conducting its own International Military Police Course.
