Myanmar Police Force

History

The Police Force in Myanmar have an extensive history; the police force also includes local police and regional police in different jurisdictions.

British rule in Myanmar

The Indian Imperial Police was the primary law enforcement in Burma until 1937, when it was split from British India.

In 1872 the third mayor of Mergui District, Sir Ashly Din (1870-1875) assigned the first police officer to be stationed at Maliwan, a village 24 miles north of current Victoria Point.

Perhaps the most famous policeman in Burma from this period is the author George Orwell, who in 1922 joined the Indian Imperial Police in Burma.

Post-independence (1948-present)

On 16 March 1988 following the killing of two students during the pro-democracy demonstrations, students marching on Prome Road were confronted near Inya Lake by the Lon Htein security force riot police and many beaten to death or drowned.

The national police are made up of several smaller entities, including

Organisation

The current Director General of Myanmar Police Force is Police Major General Zaw Win with its headquarters at Nay Pyi Daw. Its command structure is based on established civil jurisdictions. Each of Myanmar's seven states and seven divisions has their own Police Forces with headquarters in the respective capital cities.

State and Division Police Forces

There are 14 State and Divisional Police Forces and three additional State/Division Police Forces commanded by Police Brigadier or Colonels. Their jurisdictions are divided according to the Civil Administration. The States and Divisions, Additional States have the same status.

Each State and Divisional Police Force consist of four components.

The District Police Forces are classified into two classes depending on the area, population and development, namely A and B Class. Commanders of the A Class District Police Forces are Police Lieutenant Colonels and B Classes are Police Majors. Commanders of Township Police Forces are Police Majors and Police Station Officers are Police Lieutenants.

Special Departments

There are four Special Departments, in which the first two Departments are headed by the Police Brigadier Generals and the remaining two are by Police Colonels.

Others Major Departments

Training Centres

There are three main Training Centers, one Central Training Institute of Myanmar Police Force and Three Police Training Depots. The State and Divisional Police Forces have their own training centres for refresher courses and Junior Leader (NCO) Courses.

Bachelor's degree holders from Distance Learning University were disqualified to sit SIP exam.Thus vast amount of bachelor holding other rank police personal upset for their future.

No. 1 Police Training Depot

The No.1 Police Training Depot is commanded by a Police Lieutenant Colonel and undertakes:

No. 2 Police Training Depot

The No.2 Police Training Depot is also commanded by a Police Lieutenant Colonel, and undertakes only Basic Training Course for Constables, which normally takes around 6 months to complete.

Taung Lay Lone Police Training Depot

The Taung Lay Lone Police Training Depot is commanded by a Police Lieutenant Colonel and undertakes:

Reserve Units

The following units were formed with personnel formerly in the People's Militia Units.

Combat Police Battalions (SWAT)

There are sixteen Police Battalions to carry out general security duties under the command of Battalion Control Command. The Battalion Commandants are Police Lieutenant Colonels. As the populace of the cities including Yangon and Mandalay have been increased day after day, problems on social, economy and politics are risen up that could lead to emergence of civil unrest and sabotage. It is necessary to prevent from destruction and harassment, VIP and project factories and workshops, security of diplomats and their embassies. Seven of these Police Battalions are situated in the Yangon Divisional areas and two in Mandalay and three in Arakan, one in Sagaing, one in Mon State, one in Pegu, one in Prome.

These specially-trained and combat capable battalions are formed with personnel from former Riot Security Police, better known as "Lon Htein" Units. Each battalion consists of 500+ personnel and these battalions are supported by two support battalions, which include signal and medical units. These battalions structure are similar to that of Army's Light Infantry Battalions and they are subordonate to their respective Regional Military Commands.

Anti-Narcotic Task Forces

26 special anti-narcotic task forces have been established under the direction of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control.

Weapons and equipment

Myanmar Police Force uses wide range of weapons and ammunitions, ranging from Second World War vintage to modern sophisticated weapons. Most of the weapons are either seized from ethnic wars and narco-insurgents or locally produced copies of the G3 and other weapons phased out of their army.

SWAT battalions are armed with relatively modern small arms and members of MPF who are stationed in local police stations within States and Divisional Police Forces and those providing general guard duties at various government establishments and public places such as airports, train and bus stations, along with officers and detectives, are issued with Second World War vintage weapons.

Pistols

Sub machine gun

Rifles

Machine gun

Sniper rifle

Non-Lethal Weapons

Fleets

Cars and Trucks

Motorcycles

Boat and Craft

River Patrol Boat

Rail Vehicle

Awards, commendations, citations and medals

[1] Awards