MARINE OFFICERS
Maritime capability is essential for policing in and around water, as the Hampshire Constabulary Marine Support Unit demonstrates
WINNING ON WATER
The Hampshire Constabulary Marine Support Unit (MSU) is a full-time team consisting of one sergeant and nine PCs, supported by a pool of reservist officers from outside the department who are trained to crew police vessels in an ancillary role.
Hampshire Constabulary has the most enhanced maritime capability in the South East and leads on many areas of national marine policing work on behalf of the National Police Chiefs’ Council. The MSU operates a fleet of two eight-metre rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) that provide a rapid policing response and can operate offshore. The unit also has a larger command vessel, although the force is in the process of replacing this with a more modern equivalent to provide a greater level of resilience to the team during deployments further from shore. The primary task of the MSU is to project
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policing capability onto bodies of inland water and into the maritime domain, and fulfil the responsibility of the chief constable to police the water in, and adjacent to, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and out to the territorial limit, which is 12 miles offshore.
“We are response officers, neighbourhood officers, public order officers, and
investigators rolled into one, but we arrive by boat instead of car”
“In essence, we are response officers, neighbourhood officers, public order officers, and investigators rolled into one, but, where needed, we arrive by boat instead of car!” says PC Richard Orriss, Operation Wavebreaker lead. “When we don’t have the skills required on scene, we train and transport the officers that do, which sees us regularly working with firearms officers, other
specialist teams, and agencies such as the National Crime Agency,” he continues. “When we are not required on water, the team is dedicated to supporting local police teams on land and are regularly out patrolling the streets as well.” Speaking on the functionality of the team and how they operate, PC Orriss explained that the team is made up of trained licensed search officers and public order officers. They have additional skills in protester removal, advanced method of entry, all skills that
can be used on land or on the water. Water-based deployments can include inland and coastal searches, detecting and deterring criminal activity and anti- social behaviour, collaborative work with partners and the maritime community to enhance waterside security, and policing waterborne events such as Cowes Week. “This year, we were up at the Reading Festival to disrupt drug supply on the River
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