Lesotho Mounted Police Service

The Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) is the national police force of the Kingdom of Lesotho.[1]

History

The police service was established in 1872, with an initial strength of 110 men. It adopted military discipline and, from 1878, military rank structure based on the British army.[2][3] In the 1950s the force moved towards a civilian police operation, and in 1958 replaced its military rank structure with conventional civilian police ranks.[4] Originally known as the Basutoland Mounted Police, the force later changed its name to Lesotho Police, then Lesotho Mounted Police (1966), and Royal Lesotho Mounted Force (1986). Today, in common with many police forces, it has adopted the style "police service" in its current formal name of Lesotho Mounted Police Service.

Ranks
Rank and Insignia
Basutoland Mounted Police 1878-1958 Rank Major General Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Warrant Officer Staff Sergeant Sergeant Lance Sergeant Private
Insignia
Basutoland Mounted Police 1958-1966 Rank Commissioner Deputy Commissioner Assistant Commissioner Senior Superintendent Superintendent Senior Inspector Inspector Sergeant Constable
Insignia
Lesotho Mounted Police 1966-1986 Rank Commissioner Deputy Commissioner Assistant Commissioner Senior Superintendent Superintendent Senior Inspector Inspector Sergeant Constable
Insignia
Royal Lesotho Mounted Police 1986-1998 Rank Commissioner Deputy Commissioner Assistant Commissioner Senior Superintendent Superintendent Senior Inspector Inspector Sergeant Constable
Insignia
Lesotho Mounted Police Service 1998-Present Rank Commissioner Deputy Commissioner Assistant Commissioner Senior Superintendent Superintendent Senior Inspector Inspector Sergeant Constable
Insignia

Training

The national Police Training College (P.T.C) opened in 1946. All recruits are enrolled as Cadets and complete a thirteen-month training course. Recruits must be aged between 18 and 30, and pass an initial entrance examination. Recruits are accepted from all parts of Lesotho society, but must be registered as Lesotho citizens. Although police positions were originally restricted to men only, the force has admitted women officers since 1970.

See also

References
  1. "Lesotho Mounted Police Service". dijcolorg.free.fr. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  2. Dissel, Amanda; Masuku, Themba; Tshelo, Marosa; Tait, Sean (2011). The Police as Friend and Helper to the People: Assessing the Lesotho Mounted Police Service performance in terms of the Southern African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) Code of Conduct (PDF) (Report). African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  3. Tylden, G (December 1969). "Basutoland Roll of Honour 1851-1881". Military History Journal. The South African Military History Society. 1 (5). Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  4. "About Lesotho Mounted Police Service". www.lmps.org.ls. LMPS. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2021.


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