A little help from the UK please

[Sleuth]

This morning, over tea and scones (well, iced tea and bagels), I was reading about a forthcoming Homeland Security Symposium. One of the invited speakers is:
"Stuart Harrison, U.K. Superintendent, Counter Terrorist Police Militia Liasion Officer"

Is there a Militia in the UK? In the way there is in the US, meaning all able bodied men? Or do they mean Military Liasion, as between the Police and the SAS and the rest of Her Majesty's Forces?

The though of an armed Militia - or even an unarmed one, in the UK just seems at odds with what I have seen of the way the country works.
Thanks for untangling this one for me.

[Cockney Corner]

I would think that the title is just a misprint for Police-Military Liasion. We don't have a "Militia" in the UK or anything similar I can think of. Over here, the Police here work very closely with the Armed Forces on terrorism matters. I would imagine that there is a similar situation over on your side of the Pond. I do however seem to remember hearing about a law called "Posse Comitatus" or similar which governs this in the US. Perhaps you could enlighten me about that?

I believe Supt. Harrison is a Counter-Terrorism Adviser to the Association of Chief Police Officers in this country. I gather he is a serving officer in one of the forces on the South Coast of England.

[Sleuth]

Thanks Cockney.
Yes, the Posse Comitatus Act, past after our civil war, prohibits the use of the armed forces for law enforcement. It was a result of some excesses by Union troops during the reconstruction of the South. Military forces may offer support (training, vehicles, commo gear, even weapons), but the troops may not be used to arrest or detain people. For example, we had some Marines training in LP/OP (Listening Posts/Observation Posts) along the Mexican border. They carried weapons for personal defense, but if they heard/saw anything, they had to call us (U.S. Customs) to make the arrest.
However, this only applies to Federal Troops, not State National Guard units. So, during a crisis, the State Gov. can order out the National Guard, UNLESS (this reads like a law text) they have been 'Federalized', meaning activated for use by the Federal Government.
So, not everyone in Camo, carrying an M16 and rideing in an APC is Military under our laws.

[Bobbycop]

Quote:
Is there a Militia in the UK?

I suppose you could say that there have been a few in the Northern Ireland area of the UK.

[Sleuth]

I have some friends who have been "over the water", but I don't think a UK Police officer would be their liasion.

[Bloodhound_K-9_]

Just wondering....
If i brought some my dept shoulder patches over there, what could i get in return? thier patches? does the small towns have there own PD or is it all one force, and assigned to a town??

[Cockney Corner]

Bloodhound

You probably wouldn't have much luck swapping patches in the UK. Police issue over here tends to have embroidered patches rather than the kind you stitch on. And there doesn't really tend to be much of a tradition of patch collecting, so it's unlikely most officers will have any spares.

Also, to answer your question, the UK forces are organised by county (for the most part - there are exceptions). Individual towns don't have their own police forces unless they're large urban areas like London, Liverpool (Merseyside) or Glasgow (Strathclyde).

Going back to the Militia point, we do unfortunately have armed groups in Northern Ireland who claim to "police" their communities. Which translates as shooting petty criminals in the kneecaps and elbows. While operating protection rackets and drug dealing at the same time. Awfully nice chaps.

[hjo3336]

I am glad to see you did not name names when referring to militia groups in Northern Ireland because it does go both ways !!!!!

[Ex-plod]

Yes, but only one set killed Police Officers!

[hjo3336]

If you want to call a militia group hiding behind a badge "Police Officers" then be my guest. In police work, you have to be unbiased and an "Orange" police force like the RUC just didn't cut it my friend. I am not on this forum to argue politics but just my opinion and opinions of those who have been victims of a biased, bigoted "Police" agency.

[Cockney Corner]

hjo3336

Since the start of the Troubles 296 RUC GC officers have been murdered and over 7000 injured. By people who also randomly murdered civilians of both communities, in case you were unaware of that. But living in Pennsylvania, I'm sure you know all that.

[Sleuth]

Gentlemen, gentlemen, there are issues in a number of places around the world that will never be settled - including Israel, Korea, and the Native American Tribal claims in the US, to everyones satisfaction. My question has been answered, lets move on to more important things like what would be the ideal police vacation?

[Cockney Corner]

Sleuth

You do seem to be a really sensible chap. What are you doing on this forum?

[Sleuth]

I just wandered in here by mistake, and now I can't find the door!

BTW, add to my list Armenians & Turks, almost every religous zellot on the planet, and those folks who belive in crop circles and UFO's (I have to say that - the voices in my head say so!).

[hjo3336]

Cockney,
Let me start by making a public apology. I promised myself I would not let politics affect me when posting. Although I am in Pennsylvania, I have family in Northern Ireland and have been there on many occassions. I do have the unfortunate knowledge of how things go over there but like I said and will say again, I don't do the job over there and it's not my "war" so I cannot and will not make anymore comments about it. If you're ever in the US, I'll buy you a few pints. I hope you accept my apology.

[Cockney Corner]

hjo3336

I think apologies are in order from me. I generally have a look at the Forum when I back from work and my replies aren't always best considered. By coincidence, I'm going to the 9/11 Memorial Service in NY this year, as part of the British contingent. If you happen to be in the city so good they named it twice, mine's a Sam Adams. Love that stuff. Next round's on me.

[ChrisF202]

I have a question about the UK. What is the is the Territorial Army? Is it like our (US) National Guard?

[JohnKelly]

Originally posted by ChrisF202
I have a question about the UK. What is the is the Territorial Army? Is it like our (US) National Guard?

Chris, The Territorial Army is Britain's Army Reserve and is equivalent to the US Army Reserve.

The Territorial Army, like the US Army Reserve, is made up of Part-Time Soldiers who parade a number of times per year and attend annual military training camps. They are eligible for call-up to full-time military duty in the event of war.

I realise that the US National Guard is also part of your Reserve Military Forces but they are unique to the US in that under certain conditions they can also be called out for Home Service by your State Governors.

The United Kingdom does not have a National Guard as such and that is why I have compared your US Army Reserve to Britain's Territorial Army.

Cheers,

JohnKelly
Australia

[ChrisF202]

Thanks John, I assume that in Britian if there was ever a situation that the police couldent handle, then they would call out the army?

[Ex-plod]

Here the Police deal with all civil disorder although the army is in Northern Ireland to support the Police but since the cease fire their numbers have dropped considerably. The Govt have used the army to provide emergency cover during Fire fighter strikes.Sometimes if there is an emergency such as a huge flood and its not too far from a barracks then soldiers might come and help with sandbagging etc but more in a "supplying bodies" role than a military one.

[Sgt Lobster]

The police always have primacy in the UK, you do sometime see the military on the streets e.g at airports. However they are only there in support of the civil authority.



Lobster.