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CONFIDENTIAL
Chapter Three
Military Task 1.5: Military Aid to the Civil Power in Northern Ireland
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312. The Government is committed to the maintenance of law and
order and the defeat of terrorism in Northern Ireland through political, economic and social initiatives as well as security measures, including in close co-operation with the Government of the Republic of Ireland. As
part of this commitment, some 19,000 Servicemen and women currently provide support to the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). This is the armed forces' largest peacetime commitment, and is now in its twenty-fourth
year. Force levels are kept constantly under review, and adjusted as
appropriate.
313. The armed forces' support to the RUC includes operations to deter
and combat terrorist activity through the arrest of terrorists and the
seizure of equipment and other resources; foot patrols to guard RUC
officers carrying out normal police duties; vehicle check points; patrol
bases at the border to discourage cross-border attacks; and specialist
assistance, including helicopter support, bomb disposal and search teams.
The armed forces also provide reassurance to the civil population by providing a physical presence on a day-to-day basis, and military advice to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Chief Constable.
314. There are currently 18 units of battalion size in the infantry role in
Northern Ireland: six on 24-30 month accompanied tours, six on six-
month unaccompanied tours, and six comprising the home service
element of the Royal Irish Regiment. In addition, there are about 1,100
RAF and 250 RN personnel in the Province. The RN carries out patrols in
Northern Ireland waters, and the Royal Marines provide troops to meet
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