|
A Brief
History of the RN Regulating Branch
By M.A.A Pete
Swann
The
Regulating Branch has been responsible for good order and discipline in larger
ships since the early 17th century when Ships Marshals, assisted by Ships
Corporals were accountable for the conduct of the ships company.
Ships 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 Ships Corporals, the supervision of sentries, the guard and
training the ships 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 Ships 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 Ships Police, M.A.A's and Ships Corporals were a valuable
asset.
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.
The wind of change never ceased and the new chal 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..
The MAA's tnal role was about to change once more to Helmsmanship,
in some cases Victualling, flight-deck duties and many more tasks
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 augment them an 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. in 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.
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 Investigative Branch and shied away
from the term Police.
The Army and the Royal Air Force did not have a specialist Drugs Squad at that
time. However RNPHQ Portsmouth over centuries had enjoyed a close and
abiding relationship with Portsmouth City Police.
On an unofficial basis initially, the 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 RN
drugs squad if only for a few weeks. He was succeeded by the redoubtable
Ray (Yorkie) Glynn.
1984 saw the introduction of the Police and Criminal evidence act
and finally in 1990 all Regulators became recognised as Service
Police. 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 LReg was removed from ships to be replaced by a WTR . For a
short time the M.A.A. at sea operated as a singleton. In a turnaround the
LReg was reinstated at sea.
In 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 LRegs. 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 MAA being withdrawn from Destroyers
and Frigates and replaced by an RPO.
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 Regulator 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
|
