In 1968 Support Squadron, of Royal Air Force Provost and Security Services (RAF P&SS), was formed to provide a force reserve for the Provost Marshal to deploy in support of operations, exercises and other contingencies. In 1996 it was re-titled Tactical Police and Security Squadron as part of an increased focus on support to deployed Operations.

The Strategic Defence review of 1998 recognised that deployed air operations are likely to take place at the end of a long supply chain or line of communication. Control of this line of communication is a task which falls to the service military police organisations: the Royal Air Force Police and the Royal Military Police. To undertake this expanded task, the establishment of the RAF Police was increased by a number of both regular personnel and reservists. After a study, it was decided that the most effective way for the reservist element to be established were as members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. These would be integrated with the existing Tactical Police and Security Squadron to form the Tactical Provost Wing (TPW), which remained a component of HQ RAF P&SS until it became an independent unit in April 2004, staying at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire but falling under the Command of No 2 Group, Air Combat Support.

Tactical Provost Wing's expanded role has been reflected in an expanded capability. The Wing is truly self-sufficient and has its own establishment of vehicle mechanics, communications technicians and specialist training staff.

There have been few RAF operations in the last 30 years which have not seen the deployment of RAF Police personnel. The Wing has numerous responsibilities and specializations which are broken down on the following page.