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British Indian Ocean Territory Police

Military police force of the BIOT From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

British Indian Ocean Territory Police
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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 some other British Overseas Territories. The population are mostly members of the British Armed Forces and United States Armed Forces.

Quick facts Abbreviation, Jurisdictional structure ...

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

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

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

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Duties

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A ROPO 3 of the Royal Navy Police administers a breathalyzer to a U.S. Navy yeoman stationed on Diego Garcia.[citation needed]

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

  • Road traffic offences (including fixed penalty notices)
  • Sexual offences
  • Offences against the person
  • Drug abuse/misuse
  • Theft/fraud
  • Criminal damage
  • Burglary
  • Public order/drunk and disorderly
  • Illegal fishing activity
  • Fire arms/ammunition
  • MDA/importation
  • Special investigation, e.g. sudden death – a murder occurred in 1988, with the perpetrator sentenced to life imprisonment[5]
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Uniform and vehicles

The ROPOs have epaulettes with collar numbers to identify them, similar to UK civilian police uniforms.[6]

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The BIOT Police station, Diego Garcia.

United States Navy presence

The United States Navy (USN) has a Naval Support Facility at East Point Plantation and entry to it needs a police permit.[7]

See also

References

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