CONFIDENTIAL
Chapter Three
Military Task 1.6: Military Assistance to Civil Ministries in the United
Kingdom
317. Military Assistance to Civil Ministries (MACM) is the use of military forces for non-military Government tasks, including assistance to
maintain the essentials of life in the community or to undertake urgent
work of national importance. The decision to use Service personnel on
MACM operations is taken by Ministers in response to a request from a Government Department. The use of troops, who are unarmed and act solely under military orders, is only sanctioned as a last resort, and charges
are raised against the sponsoring Department.
318. Additionally, the Ministry of Defence routinely carries out a number of duties for other Government Departments on a repayment basis, in particular fishery protection, hydrographic tasks and assistance to HM Customs and Excise. The Fishery Protection Squadron (FPS) comprises
purpose-built Island Class patrol vessels and Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs) operating in a secondary role. In addition to its primary function, the FPS also contributes to the maintenance of the integrity of British waters in peacetime (Military Task 1.9), and the training and experience it provides, especially for young commanders, is invaluable. The FPS also carries out surveillance operations and, when agreed by Ministers, interdiction operations against drug traffickers on behalf of HM Customs and Excise; during 1992 Royal Navy vessels also played a vital part in assisting in the largest ever seizure of cannabis by HM Customs and Excise. In addition the FPS monitors off-shore dumping for MAFF under
the terms of the Oslo Convention; provides assistance to the Department of Transport in combating oil pollution; and provides search and rescue (SAR), medical and fire fighting assistance to fishing vessels and other
CONFIDENTIAL
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