Page 412 - Bahrain Gov annual reports(V)_Neat

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MOBILE POLICE FORCE
General
I. The Mobile Police Force in charge of Major G. L. G« Green, was formed in August,
1956, from the Military Wing of the State Police and this report covers the period from that
time to December 31st, 1956.

Strength
2. The total strength of the Force at the time of formation was 138, all ranks, including
three British Officers and six Pakistani Havildars.
3. The present strength of Mobile Police Force is '245 all ranks, including three British
Officers and six Pakistani Havildars.
4. During the period under review one British Officer has left the Police Force and one
British Officer has been posted to Mobile Police Force from the Police Training School.

Organisation
5. Prior to August 1956 the Military Wing of the State Police comprised one rifle com­
pany and an Armoured Car Squadron ; however, in this month it was decided to change the
name to Mobile Police Force and to form two rifle companies and one Armoured Car Squadron
equipped with twelve Humber Scout cars, eight Land Rover Pick-ups and three short chassis
Land Rovers.
6. Lack of experience and unreliability of equipment coupled with an acute shortage of
officers caused two rifle companies to be amalgamated and the Force at the end of the year
comprises one rifle company and one Armoured Car Squadron which was virtually a Motor
Transport Pool for Mobile Police Force.

Training
7. Training during the period has included foot drill, arms drill, ceremonial duties,
musketry, riot duties, vehicle driving and maintenance, Law and Police duties and literacy.
8. In August 1956 it was decided to form under a British Superintendent a Riot Squad
comprising one British Inspector, seven cadet officers and fifty-nine rank and file. Apart from
the British Officers and the Cadet Officers later promoted to Assistant Sub-Inspectors, the
Lance-Corporal and three Constables, none of the men had more than six months service.
All the other ranks were chosen from the Military Wing of that time and training was started
in the use of all riot weapons and riot drill. Training continued during September and October
and, when the riots broke out in November, the Riot Squad was used for the first time. It was
December before normal training could be resumed. In the meantime, due to one British
Officer leaving the Force, “B” Company was amalgamated with “A” Company as one company.
In the light of experience during the riots, although the original Riot Squad had done very well,
it was decided that one such was not sufficient and that smaller numbers in a riot squad could
undertake more efficiently the same work as the original unit. Four riot squads have now been
formed and trained in riot duties, two of which are fully equipped and ready for riot duty and
the remaining two are held for general duties until such time as riot weapons are available.
9. Courses in driving and simple first-line maintenance have been organised in an attempt
to raise the standard of drivers and so cut down the repair costs.
10. Slightly less than ten per cent, of the recruits arc literate and classes are now being
held in an attempt to teach all men to read and write simple Arabic. Progress is slow but some
headway is being made which merits the continuance of this type of educational training.
11. All other ranks are being trained in musketry and rifle drill before going on to training
in the use of specialist weapons.
12. The Humber Scout Cars or Armoured Cars, are of little practical use except as
mobile road blocks or defensive positions. The vehicles are far from reliable on the road,
being subject to overheating and frequent breakdowns making it necessary to send out at least
two vehicles at a time. There are few streets in Manama and Muharraq where these cars can
be manoeuvred and their estimated possible life is from twelve to eighteen months, with a heavy
maintenance and repair charge.