Military police are the trained police maintained by a nation’s armed forces. On military installations, these men and women have powers similar to those of civilian police. Military police enforce military laws and regulations, control traffic, prevent and investigate crime, apprehend military absentees, maintain custody of military prisoners, and provide physical security for military personnel and property. In combat situations, military police also maintain custody of prisoners of war. When necessary in combat, military police can be ordered to fight as infantry.
In the United States armed forces, police duties are carried out by Military Police (MP) for the Army and Marine Corps, the Shore Patrol for the Navy and Coast Guard, and the Security Police for the Air Force. The functions of the Shore Patrol are more limited than those of other military police (see Shore Patrol ).
