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The Royal Military Police are patrolling with beat bobbies in the nightlife hotspots of Broad Street and Hurst Street - to protect clubbers and tackle thugs.

Such joint patrols are common in Garrison Towns like Aldershot and Bulford, but with soldiers regularly heading to Birmingham for nights out, the Red Caps were keen to gain experience of policing a thriving city centre.

Police Sergeant Dave Francis, of West Midlands Police, said their army counterparts been welcomed to Birmingham by bar managers, door staff and partygoers.

He said: “The Royal Military Police is keen for their staff to spend time with UK police forces to boost their experience…they have a high level of training but often don’t get the opportunity to put it into practice.

“The Red Caps are a reassuring presence and provide a clear visual deterrent for any services personnel who may be tempted to drink to excess and get into trouble; they encourage greater responsibility and better behaviour."

The Royal Military Police have powers of arrest over ‘squaddies’ but not other members of the public.

However, they can carry out citizen’s arrests on crime suspects - as illustrated by Red Cap Corporal Aaron Collins who chased down and apprehended a man who assaulted women last July in Broad Street.

He was on patrol near Granville Street at 2.30am when he saw the 24-year-old yank one women’s hair and shove another in the face.

The lout was given a police caution for assault, while Cpl Collins received a West Midlands Police Commendation and a Best of Broad Street Award for his actions.

Major Deborah Scott, Officer Commanding the local Royal Military Police unit, said: “Throughout the country, the Royal Military Police regularly conduct joint patrols with our civilian counterparts; this enables good working relationships to be built between the military and civilian policing agencies. It also allows us to develop and maintain our policing capability should we be required to deploy on operations overseas."

And Broad Street Manager Mike Olley, added: “The Royal Military Police add a layer of highly trained and disciplined professionals to Westside…they are greatly welcomed by our bar managers and door staff.

“They add to the diversity of the area and people love to see our troops. Just like the song ‘All nice girls love a sailor’ well in this case all nice girls love a Red Cap!"