Definition of the word military police

The term "military police" first appeared during the British Army's reorganization in the mid-19th century. Prior to this, the British Army had no organized police forces within their military organization, and instead relied on civilian police to maintain order in and around military installations. In 1857, the British Army established the Corps of Military Police (CMP) to maintain control and discipline within their own ranks. The CMP's primary duties included preventing theft, regulating traffic, assisting with prisoner transportation, and investigating accidents and incidents within military installations. The term "military police" itself is a direct translation of the French phrase "police militaire," which had been used by the French Army since the Napoleonic era to refer to their own military police force. The French model of a military police force included both uniformed and plainclothes officers who were responsible for maintaining order, enforcing military laws and decrees, and preventing crimes against military personnel and their families. In the United States, the term "military police" has been used since the late 19th century, but it wasn't until after World War II that the US Army established a formal military police corps, similar to the British CMP. The US Army's Military Police Corps is responsible for a wide range of duties, including base defense, traffic control, criminal investigation, and prisoner transportation both within the US and in deployed locations around the world.