Background. There is no organisation with independent and impartial oversight of the Royal Military Police (RMP), empowered to investigate individual cases of alleged misconduct (RAF Police and RN Police also come under MOD control). For Home Office police forces this function is provided by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). This lack of oversight is despite criticisms of: resourcing, influence by the mainstream Army, and integrity of senior officers (the high court warning of the colonel who was second-in-command RMP in 2010, that "It is our view that any court seized of those proceedings should approach his evidence with the greatest caution.") These issues have been questioned following incidents such as the deaths of young recruits at Deepcut, the killings by Parachute Regiment personnel of joyriders in Kosovo, the killing of Baha Mousa in Iraq, and allegations regarding the killing of multiple Iraqi prisoners in the aftermath of the so-called "Danny Boy incident".

Further to s1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

Please provide all documentation regarding consideration of independent and impartial oversight of the RMP, including but not exclusive to analyses conducted in the aftermath of the above incidents, and as part of the drafting of the Armed Forces Acts 2006 and 2011.

My preferred format to receive this information is by electronic means. If one part of this request can be answered sooner than others, please send that information first followed by any subsequent data. If you need any clarification of this request please feel free to email me. If FOI requests of a similar nature have already been asked could you please include your responses to those requests.

I note that under s16 of the Act, it is the MOD's duty to provide advice and assistance, so far as it would be reasonable to expect the authority to do so, to persons who make requests for information to it. Accordingly, if the MOD considers attempting to block release of information under s12 of the Act (exemption where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit), please a) provide a breakdown of costs, and b) explain what information *would* be releasable within the appropriate limit according to the department's purported calculations. I would, in that situation, apply for internal review, and ultimately apply for decision by the Information Commissioner, per s50 of the Act.

I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request, and I look forward to hearing from you within the 20-working day statutory time period.

Regards,

L Mowday

To clarify, my reference for this request is: LSM/FOI/120909/01.
Apologies for the omission originally. Many thanks.