British Indian Ocean Territory Police

The British Indian Ocean Territory Police serve in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) (situated in the Indian Ocean halfway between Tanzania and Indonesia). BIOT is a territory which does not have a permanent civil population, like most British Overseas Territories. The population are mostly members of the British Armed Forces and United States Armed Forces.

British Indian Ocean Territory Police
AbbreviationBIOT Police
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionUK
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersDiego Garcia, BIOT
Service Polices10
Parent agencyMOD
Website
biot.gov.io/about

As such the BIOT police consists of Royal Overseas Police Officers (ROPO), that are all currently members of either the Royal Marines or Royal Navy.[1]

Headquarters of the British Indian Ocean Territory Police, Diego Garcia, 2005.

Organisation

The BIOT police (as of 2015[2]) consists of:

  • Senior Police Officer (ROPO 1) (Royal Navy Master at Arms or Royal Marine Colour Sergeant with Special Investigations Branch (SIB) experience) who acts as: the senior police person for the island, Primary Liaison Officer between international police forces, superintendent of prisons, senior officer in charge of supervision of ROPOs and provide reassurance to the island community regarding police and criminal activity. He/she is responsible to the BIOT Commissioner[3]
  • Assistant Senior Police Officer (ROPO 2) (Royal Navy Senior Rate) who assists ROPO 1 with his/her duties. He/she is SIB and CSI trained.
  • ROPO 3 - Royal Navy Police Senior Rate. (SIB experience and CSI trained).
  • ROPO 4 - Royal Navy Police Senior Rate.
  • ROPO 5 - Royal Military Police Corporal, female.
  • ROPO 6 - Royal Air Force Police Corporal, dog handler.
  • ROPO 7 - Royal Marines Police Corporal/Lance Corporal.
  • ROPO 8 - Royal Navy Police Leading Regulator, female.
  • ROPO 9 - Royal Navy Police Leading Regulator.
  • ROPO 10 - Royal Marines Police Corporal/Lance Corporal

Duties

The duties of the ROPOs are typical of service police, but also act as customs officers for the island of Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory, as well as prison officers, as the Senior Police Officer acts as 'superintendent of prisons'.

The offences dealt with by BIOT police have included:[4]

  • Road Traffic Offences (Inc Fixed Penalty Notices)
  • Sexual Offences
  • Offences Against the Person
  • Drug Abuse/Misuse Statutory Offences
  • Theft/Fraud
  • Criminal Damage
  • Burglary
  • Public Order/Drunk Disorderly
  • Illegal Fishing Activity
  • Fire Arms/Ammunition
  • MDA/Importation
  • Special Investigation – Sudden Death

Uniform and vehicles

The ROPOs have epaulettes with collar numbers to identify them, similar to UK civilian police uniforms.[5] BIOT police use 4x4/SUV vehicles to patrol and respond to emergencies, they are painted with the typical British Battenburg Pattern and have "BIOT POLICE" markings on the vehicles.[6][7]

Dog Unit/K-9

The BIOT Police also has a dog unit (also knows as K-9).[6]

United States Navy presence

The United States Navy (USN) has Naval Support Facility at East Point Plantation and entry to it needs a police permit.[8]

See also

References
  1. Ministry of Defence (April 2, 2012). "Overseas Territories, The Ministry of Defence's Contribution, Directorate-General Security Policy" (PDF).
  4. "FOI 0863-15 Crime Statistics" (PDF). October 30, 2015.
  5. "British Indian Ocean Territories Police - a Freedom of Information request to Foreign and Commonwealth Office". WhatDoTheyKnow. August 12, 2017.
  6. "Royal Air Force Police". www.facebook.com.
  7. "Employment Opportunities - Page 56". www.aulro.com.
  8. "Diego Garcia". MSC. United States Navy. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
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