Description

Description: Squadron Patch – Provost Unit 1961 – 1979

Condition: Very Good

Comments: Squadron Patch – Provost Unit.

The Provost Service within the RAAF began in a very small way during 1930, when service police were first established for unit duties. The first Provost Marshal and Assistant Provost Marshal were appointed towards the end of 1940, but it was not until 6 April 1942 that the RAAF Service Police Unit was properly established and organised. The headquarters of the Service Police Unit was formed in Melbourne with detachments in each State and overseas.
The service was reorganised as the RAAF Provost Unit from 16 January 1961, with Sections in each State except Tasmania, and North and South Sections in Queensland, all reporting to Headquarters in Melbourne. Commanding Officers of the Provost Detachment Units were known as Assistant Provost Marshals.
In March 1979, the Unit was renamed the RAAF Police Service. Organisational change within the Unit, however, did not become effective until 1 September 1979. At this time, the Unit relinquished control of RAAF Police Offices throughout Australia, with State offices coming under the administrative control of RAAF support units in the respective capital cities, HQ Support Command Unit in Melbourne, and Base Squadrons in both Townsville and Darwin.
On 12 February 1981, Headquarters RAAF Police was disbanded. Command Police Offices were established within the two RAAF Commands (Support Command and Operational Command) in 1981, to assume the quality control function for RAAF Police Offices under their respective Commands. At the same time the previous agency was relocated to Canberra, and became known as RAAF Police Records Centre.