[3] The RNP subsumed the Royal Marines Police in 2009, although for operational purposes the majority of the two cadres of personnel are employed within their respective areas of the service.

The motto of the RNP is Ne Cede Malis which translates from Latin into English as 'Do not yield to adversity' or 'Do not give in to evil'.

Ship's marshals were abolished and replaced by the Master At Arms (MAA) rate, which was introduced in about 1699, a tradition that continues right up to the present day.

In September 1944, the Admiralty concluded that the organisation for the maintenance of discipline on shore in the main naval port areas was unsatisfactory.

As a result of the Shepherd report, regulating branch training, which hitherto had been carried out in the barracks of the main ports, was centralised.

As such, members of the RNP are employed in both uniformed and plainclothes roles, on ships, within shore establishments and in 3 Commando Brigade and other Royal Marine units.

The RNP have been granted maritime law enforcement powers within English and Welsh territorial waters under the Police and Crime Act 2017 [8] by virtue of a statutory instrument, which came into effect on 7 January 2021.

[10] The policy context is that contingency work for the end of the EU Transition Period identified that there may be an operational requirement to extend law enforcement powers to Royal Navy Police, which were granted with the caveats that the powers would only be used where police permission was granted, that no law enforcement activity will be undertaken independently and that the arrangements will be reviewed every six months.

[11] This is one of the only known examples where the armed forces (albeit, a specific branch) have powers of arrest over civilians whilst within the territory of the UK.

In addition to the standard recruitment process, Candidates undertake a suitability assessment during the Royal Navy Acquaint Centre stage of application.

In addition to a stab vest, RNP will carry an expandable Monadnock baton, speedcuffs, a TETRA radio with earpiece (on the secure Airwave network) and limb restraints.