An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir February 2015 www.dfmagazine.ie 32 | MiliTARy DeTenTiOn bARRAcKs sTAff REPoRT AND PHoToS by SGT DONAL O'CONNOR, MP GP DFTC T he 6th Military Detention barracks Staff Course took place in the Military Po- lice School and the Military Detention barracks (MDb), DFTC from 28th octo- ber to 7th November 2014. Students applying for this course must be qualified Military Police personnel with prior training in baton and restraints and unarmed combat as per the MP Probationers course syllabus. The objective of the course, which is open to all officers and NCOs of the MP Corps, is to train personnel to staff a fully operational military detention facility and enable them to deal with any possible situation that could arise in that environment. The Detention Barracks has its own staff establishment within DFTC MP Group and is under the command of the Governor. It also draws additional staff support from other MP units including Air Corps and Naval Service MP personnel, if and when required. Instructors on the course are trained and certified to instructor level by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) in their latest control and restraint techniques and practices. The first half of the course is predominantly theory based and deals with areas relating to detainee administration and welfare, admission and discharge procedures, security of the facility, standing orders, statutory instructions, and various other daily routine matters, in addition to ba- sic life saving and fire fighting. Detainee escort procedure is also covered using the purpose-built, six-cell prison van. The more robust second half of the course trains students to deal with situations where control has to be regained in both confined and open spaces. Students are exercised and evaluated in barricade and obstacle clearance, yard clearance, cell and landing clearance, and cell landing clearance by fast entry. Students are also exercised in techniques involving the removal of both compliant and violent, armed, non-compliant detainees. The equipment in use for this phase of the training is the latest personal protective equipment (PPE) available, and includes full body armour, fire-retardant undergarments, a fire-retardant DPM overall, helmet, and standard public order visor, baton and shield. The MP school maintains close links with the Irish Prison Service and regularly sends MP personnel on IPS-run courses so that training is current and in keep- ing with best practice. Upon successful completion of the course students return to their respective units and can be recalled peri- odically at the request of the governor MDB, for staffing or refresher training as and when required. An Cosantóir February 2015 www.dfmagazine.ie 32 |

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