Please tell me it couldn't happen today.....D.
I reckon it could.
In "Fred Karno's Air Farce" (i.e. RAF Waddington) in 1968, "Angry Frank" Moorhen deserted Queen and Country. The RAF Police staked out his Mum's house and searched far and wide but found no trace of him. No wonder: he had moved into the barrack block inhabited by the civilian workers of "Joe SWO's Gang", adopted civilian attire and grown a beard. He ate his meals with the SWO's work party in the Airmen's Mess and everyone knew where he was except the RAF Police. We watched and wondered how long it would take them to find him. Nearly three months passed before he got fed up with the lack of cash and gave himself up. He was 'working his ticket', of course, but it didn't work out for him. After 56 days in Colchester military detention he was returned to Waddington to resume his duties. The 'Colchester Cure' worked its magic on Frank who, being no longer angry, became a useful man on Line Maintenance again.
Security? Nah! Not unless there has been a major change in Plod recruitment.