The Regulating Branch has been responsible for good order and discipline in larger ships since the early 17th century when Ship's Marshals, assisted by Ship's Corporals were accountable for the conduct of the ship's company.

Ship's Marshals were abolished and the Master At Arms (M.A.A.) rate was introduced in about 1699, thereby spinning a thread of gold that has continued through the centuries, right up to the present day.

The M.A.A. was accountable to the Lieutenant at Arms for the duties of the Ship's Corporals, the supervision of sentries, the guard and training the ship's company in the use of small arms.

Between 1790 and 1806, the M.A.A. was made responsible for fire prevention measures on board, but his disciplinary duties were restricted to non-departmental offences such as quarrelling, drunkenness and rioting.

The status of the M.A.A. together with the Caulker and Armourer, was reduced to Petty Officer between 1806 and 1816, although his pay was not reduced. He also maintained his position as the senior non-commissioned man in the ship.

Over the years, the duties of the M.A.A. gradually became more involved with the administration of naval discipline as small arms training had been transferred to the Junior Lieutenant and corporal punishment was being administered by the Boatswain.

In 1850, a Manning Committee recommended the formation of a Naval Police Branch.  Accordingly a Ship's Police Branch was established in June 1860. In 1861, a survey was carried out to determine if the formation had been successful. It was concluded by the Captains of major ships that the Ship's Police, M.A.A's and Ship's Corporals were a valuable asset being responsible for cleanliness below decks, joining, leaving and drafting routines in addition to their disciplinary duties. 

 The Admiralty, concerned at the standard of naval discipline on shore asked that the Ship's Police be landed as Shore Patrols.  Ship's Captains resisted, stating that the workload of the Ship's Police precluded their being spared.  It was then recommended that a Reserve Naval Police Force be established to form shore patrols and assist on board ships as required.  This faltered because, whilst many volunteers were forthcoming, too few possessed the qualifications and personal qualities for the task.

The duties of the Ship's Police were promulgated in the 1879 edition of the Queen's Regulations for the Royal Navy but differed little from those laid down a century earlier.  In 1879, to indicate his special position, the M.A.A. was permitted to wear a frock coat and carry a sword.  To be distinguishable from the officers' dress, the coat was to have 4 buttons instead of 5 and the sword was to be plain with a black hilt.

The introduction of the divisional system into the Navy in 1918 brought about a strong feeling in the Fleet that there would be no requirement for the Ship's Police Branch.  This feeling was so strong that branch numbers dwindled.  Potential candidates, believing the branch to be moribund, were not forthcoming and the situation became critical.  Admiralty Fleet Order 3689 of 21 November 1918 called for the Commanders-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet and Home Ports to ascertain the opinions of their senior Captains on the advisability of continuing the Ship's Police as a branch of the Service.

Seventy-one Flag Officers and senior captains reported their opinions; cleanliness below decks, administration and discipline were the main subjects for argument.  The majority view, 59 out of the 71, was that disciplinary and administrative duties required both training and experience.  Petty Officers untrained and employed for short periods would cause the ship to be in a constant state of turmoil.  Most Captains stressed the need for an experienced M.A.A. who understood the complex make up of a constantly changing ship's company, very unlike the comparatively rigid Army regimental system.  The Captain of HMS CANADA wrote on 4 December 1918:

"Speaking from a seagoing ship's point of view during this war, the Ship's Police have shown their great value in accustoming the Hostility Only Ratings to naval discipline and life".

Rear Admiral H F OLIVER, the Rear Admiral Commanding the First Battle Cruiser Squadron, wrote on 28 November 1918:

"The experienced long service Ship's Police understand the complex system which controls the diverse ratings which go to make up a ship's company and I think we owe them a great deal for the contentment and good discipline prevailing during this war.  The Ship's Police deal with the Commander and Captain and nothing serious can happen regards the men without the Commander being aware of it".

A number of senior officers recommended renaming the Ship's Police the Regulating Branch to more clearly reflect its duties on board, which were not seen to be opposed in any way to the new divisional system.

Senior Officers argued that the presence of the Ship's Police undermined the authority of the Petty Officers. They stated that it inculcated the belief that discipline was not of their concern, that administration was a simple routine matter that could be undertaken by anyone and the disciplinary or legal knowledge could be very quickly learned.  These officers recommended abolition of the Ship's Police Branch.  Admiral BEATTY, the Commander-in-Chief Grand Fleet, submitted to the Admiralty on 15 January 1919:

"Though the principle of Ship's Police duties being carried out by Petty Officers is advocated, it is not considered, under the present changing conditions that the time has yet arrived to abolish the Ship's Police as a branch of the Service.  In any case should the change be made, it would have to be carried out very gradually".

The survey resulted in the issue of Admiralty Fleet Order 2290 dated 2 July 1919 which abolished the Ship's Police branch and introduced the Regulating Branch, which was to consist of Masters at Arms and Regulating Petty Officers.

In September 1944, the the Admiralty again concluded that the organisation for the maintenance of discipline on shore in the main naval port areas was unsatisfactory.  Colonel D H C SHEPHERD Royal Marines, previously the Naval Provost Marshal Malta, carried out a study into the requirement for a Naval Provost organisation.  He reported that the system of landing ships' patrols in major naval base areas was unsatisfactory because the Petty Officers and Leading Ratings in charge, however well briefed, lacked the knowledge and experience to deal with incidents and, being unable to render a lucid written report, avoided taking action wherever possible.  the men detailed for patrol disliked the duty intensely believing it to be a form of punishment.  Taking action against a messmate was abhorrent to them, and their dress and bearing left much to be desired.

The SHEPHERD report recommended the introduction of a Leading Patrolman rating to become the junior member of the Regulation Branch and borne primarily for provost duties, and the creation of a Provost organisation to operate within the major naval port areas.  The report concluded, "It is impossible to lay too much stress on the imperative need to ensure that this proposal is launched on a firm footing and with the correct attitude and ideals from the very outset".  Admiralty Fleet Order 6681/44 of 21 December 1944 implemented the proposals of the SHEPHERD report.

As a result of the SHEPHERD report Regulating Branch training which hitherto had been carried out in the barracks of the main ports was centralised.  In 1945, a RN Regulating School was established at Beachwood Camp in Devon to train all regulating ratings and to maintain branch records.  In 1946, it moved to Fort Wallington near Portsmouth, in 1947 to HMS CICERO in Essex, in 1948 to HMS EXCELLENT where it remained until November 2005.  Initially, the role of the Leading Patrolman was to augment patrols on shore and assist in regulating duties as necessary.  In 1968 Leading Patrolmen were renamed Leading Regulators. The use of the word "Police" in connection with the Regulating Branch found little appeal or favour amongst senior officers.

The rank of Leading Regulator was chosen to reflect their role of being the junior members of the Regulating Branch and their increasing employment in wider regulating type duties, ashore and afloat. However the wind of change never ceased.  Pre-1968 Regulating Branch ratings were employed on cruisers and above only.

However, the abolition of the Coxswains Branch meant that Regulators would be drafted to Destroyers, Frigates and below. The amalgamation of the Coxswains into the Regulating Branch, caused discomfort and upheaval for all concerned. It is true to say neither branch was happy with the situation.

Amalgamation also meant that the  M.A.A's initial role was about to change once more to Helmsmanship, in some cases Victualling, Flight-deck duties and a myriad other tasks now faced the seagoing Master at Arms, who was unused to small ships routine. 

Some found it difficult to cope, but the vast majority assimilated their new role and gained experience. But faced with many new responsibilities it was found necessary to assign them a L. Reg. to assist in carrying out the basic disciplinary and Regulating functions. This move was a two-fold bonus. It ensured that the basic work was tended to at the correct level and much more importantly, prepared the L. Reg. for his duties as a M.A.A. of the future.


The late 1960's had brought major changes in the civilian population. This was the "hippy" era which carried with it, a drug culture that was unacceptable, totally abhorrent and unwanted within the Royal Navy. Notwithstanding, the threat of drug misuse was very real. Her Majesty's Royal Navy were firm in adopting an attitude of zero tolerance towards drug abuse within the service

Lt Cdr Hopson Hill RN who was NPM Portsmouth, saw the need for a Royal Navy Drugs Squad in 1967. This was an enormous leap of faith in a branch that did not possess a Special Investigation Branch and was still very reluctant to revert to the Branch's old title, the dreaded word  Police.

Remarkably the  Army and the Royal Air Force did not have a specialist Drugs Squad at that time. The Royal Navy holds the dubious honour of being first! RNPHQ Portsmouth was very fortunate in the fact that over centuries they have enjoyed a close and abiding relationship with Portsmouth City Police. Regulators carried Police radios whilst on patrol and acted as Police officers within Port areas

On an unofficial basis initially, the civilian Police agreed to second Regulators to Portsmouth Drugs Squad, later to be named Hampshire, South East Area Drugs Squad .

L.Reg. Jim Roden holds the honour of being the first member of a Royal Navy Drugs Squad if only for a few weeks. He was succeeded by the redoubtable Ray (Yorkie) Glynn. ( RBA Member) Yours truly proudly took his place on the Drugs Squad for over two years, a very elite club!

1984 saw the introduction of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and finally in 1990 all Regulators were classed as Service Police. However the term Regulator remained in common use.

Security reviews after the IRA bombing of the Royal Marines School of Music in Deal resulted in Regulators assimilating the task of security management at establishments.

Between 1996 and 2000, the Regulating Branch curtailed recruiting. The L. Reg was removed from ships to be replaced by a WTR . For a short time the M.A.A. at sea operated as a singleton. We, as a Branch, were back in the exact same position that we had found ourselves in 1918, a dire situation. However there is a God!

A miracle took place and in a  early 1999, the report of the long awaited "Way Ahead Study" rejected the idea of recruiting to the Branch directly at Petty Officer level and recommended retaining the L. Regs. It also rejected some sideways recruiting into the rate of MAA in an attempt to solve the problem of providing enough Senior Regulators.

In 2002, the TOPMAST Squad System was introduced into the Fleet. With it, came the the creation of the Executive Warrant Officer. History repeated itself with the M.A.A. being withdrawn from Destroyers and Frigates and replaced by an RPO.

In November 2005 the Regulating School at HMS Excellent, Whale Island   closed it's doors and relocated to join their colleagues in the Royal Military Police and the Royal Air Force Police at Southwick Park formerly HMS Dryad The Regulating School had maintained a presence at Whale Island since 1948

At Southwick Park they have a modern state of the art training facility that would be the envy of many Police Forces. Most favour the change or at least accept it as inevitable. Another interesting fact is that the Royal Marine Police Troop is to merge with the Regulating Branch. One cannot help wonder if in a number of years a "purple" force will emerge with all three services melding into an autonomous Service Police Force

In early 2006 the new Armed Forces Bill declared that Regulators would be known as Service Police a title that they last held in 1860! This time the title will be accepted and used.

Every person who has served in the Regulating Branch will state that they "saw the best of it" and in recent years the modern Regulating Branch has had more than it's fair share of turmoil. 

However, to dwell on the past if you are a serving Naval Policeman or woman is counterproductive. The Branch must take a realistic approach of their place in a Royal Navy, whose size, shape and future role is changing rapidly. The training provided has never been better and the only option is to look optimistically to the future.

If you have read our History you will clearly see that the Regulating Branch has served a vital function within Her Majesty's Royal Navy and has made an extremely valuable contribution in terms of good order, discipline and morale, not to mention the compassionate leave and assisting in dealing with tragedies such as the death of a sailor.

The rate Regulating Petty Officer, Leading Regulator and Master At Arms will remain thankfully. shoulder flashes will signify that they are Service Police The Leading Reg moves up to a higher pay band, so the outlook is very positive!

However one is always left with the nagging feeling that the attitude of our Lord's and Masters throughout the centuries has been that they can't live with us, but they can't live without us!

In the humble opinion of your webmaster with the state of the art equipment carried on a modern warship coupled with the culture of a permissive approach to  recreational drugs  sex, both heterosexual and homosexual and binge drinking the Regulating Branch is needed even more than ever!

The End ( for now)

Tom Rees