British military police have strengthened cooperation with their Ukrainian and Norwegian counterparts through a joint training exchange at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.
The meeting, part of NATO’s Warfare Development initiative, brought together personnel from the British Army’s 150 Provost Company, 1st Battalion Royal Military Police (1RMP), alongside visiting Ukrainian and Norwegian military police. The aim was to share lessons from recent conflicts and improve interoperability in battlefield policing and security operations, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The collaboration, the Army say, builds on existing ties established through Operation Interflex, the UK-led training programme supporting Ukraine’s armed forces. Over several days, the visiting teams received briefings on British military police functions, equipment and recent exercises before taking part in Exercise Redcap Typhon, a simulated operational scenario using Defence Virtual Simulation software.
Major Joshua Stribbing, Officer Commanding 150 Provost Company, said in the press release that the event allowed the three nations to exchange valuable experience. “We shared experiences, as well as trying to demonstrate the capabilities that 1RMP have built up over several decades,” he said. “We gave them the benefit of our experience, and they gave us the benefit of modern conventional war fighting in a manner that we have not engaged in for several years.”
Major Stribbing highlighted the importance of learning from Ukraine’s combat experience. “Our Ukrainian colleague said it best, ‘The lessons we’ve learned have been learned in blood,’ and the best way for us to not go through their experience is to listen and take note so more blood isn’t shed,” he said. “Seeing an individual who’s had to make those difficult decisions every day for several years at a similar level to me is inspirational.”
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Boyd, Commanding Officer of 1RMP, presented visiting officers with a regimental shield to mark the partnership. The Norwegian delegation shared insights from operating in extreme weather conditions and invited British counterparts to train in Norway, while the Ukrainian military police observed British methods for rapid deployment and readiness.
