Military police from Sussex are to be sent to Iraq to help train the country's security forces.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced two platoons of Redcaps trained at Roussillon Barracks, Chichester, will be deployed next month.

He told the Commons: "The vast majority of attacks occur in a particular area to the north and west of Baghdad.

"We obviously hope that particular events there over this weekend will lead to a reduction in the number of these attacks.

"A crucial component of our efforts in Iraq is the training of Iraqi security forces.

"This has been given added impetus by the acceleration of the political timetable agreed by the Iraqi Governing Council on November 15.

"To accelerate the rate of training there is a requirement for an additional infantry battalion and a contingent of Royal Military Police.

"The House will recall that I have previously announced the earmarking of a ready battalion for deployment.

"I have decided that this battalion - the First Battalion, the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders - and two platoons of the Royal Military Police, drawn from 101 and 156 Provost Companies, should deploy in January for a period of six months."

The Royal Military Police have lost nine men since the war in Iraq was declared over.

Last June, six Redcaps were killed by a mob which surrounded a police station at Al Majar Al-Kabir, near Basra.

They were members of 156 Provost Company, attached to 16 Air Assault Brigade, based in Colchester, Essex.

A further three Redcaps were killed when their car was attacked by gunmen during a routine patrol.