Further information also available on the Marine Unit:
The Solent Portal Area
Within this area there are 286 miles of navigable coastline.32,000 leisure craft are moored on the Solent with a further 25000 craft regular users.
The combined value of Moored craft alone is in excess of £2.5 billion.
This figure equates to 44% of all the UK’s pleasure craft being moored in the Solent area.
The Solent is the top Sailing venue in the UK hosting events such as Cowes week, Volvo ocean race, Fastnet race, Global challenge round the world, The Tall ships race, as well as International Dinghy racing events.
Other major waterbourne events include The International Fleet Review T200, The International Festival of the Sea and the Countries primary International Boat show.
The Solent’s commercial and military interests include the UK’s largest cruise terminal, the largest oil and petrochemical terminal, the second busiest ferry terminal, third largest container terminal, the UK’s primary military logistics port & the home of the Royal Navy.
It is the busiest waterway in Europe & one of the busiest in the world with around one million commercial and Naval shipping movements per year and in excess of 10 million pleasure craft movements per year.
The Role of the Marine Unit
The unit provides a specialist resource to the Constabulary, as well as providing a service to the boating a community and the Hampshire public as a whole. The Unit’s role includes:
- Counter Terrorism patrols
- The reduction and detection of marine crime
- Investigation of marine incidents and fatalities
- Policing of large events
- Promotion of water safety
- Providing a specialist interface with other agencies such as Customs and Revenue, Coastguard, Immigration, Harbour Authorities and county and local councils
- Providing a Specialist Marine Resource for officers of the Hampshire Constabulary
- Providing a specialist Marine Intelligence resource
History of the Unit
1947 saw the start of marine policing in Hampshire with the "Versatile", which policed Southampton Docks under the auspices of the old city police force.
The first photograph shows the "Versatile", featuring one of the very first Marine Support Unit Officers attempting to start their tender's 'Seagull' engine!
In 1971 Hampshire Constabulary commissioned a new 40ft Nelson, the "Ashburton", which was based at Cowes and became something of a legend in the Solent area, before being de-commissioned in 1994 in favour of three smaller launches.
The second photograph shows the "Ashburton" on patrol in Chichester Harbour with picturesque Langstone Mill in the background.
April 1994 heralded a new era with the "Ashburton" being replaced by Seaward 25 twin screw launches based at three different locations. This had the desired effect of creating three separate beats on the water.
The third photograph shows the "Sir James Scott" escorting the Royal Yacht "Britannia" out of Portsmouth Harbour for the last time before de-commissioning.
2001 saw the arrival of three new Mitchell 31 Twin Screw Diesel Launches, built by JS Mouldings Ltd., to replace the fleet of Seawards.
The Unit Today
The unit consists of one Sergeant and nine PC’s. Policing with 3 semi displacement launches and one rigid inflatable.
Police Launch Sir James Scott, based in Portsmouth Harbour with 3 PC’s including the Marine Intelligence Officer.
Police Launch Lord Ashburton, based in Cowes Harbour with 3 PC’sPolice Launch Earl Mountbatten of Burma, based in Southampton with 3 PC’s and the Unit Sergeant.
Police RIB James Ward based at Southampton for use in specialist operations.The launches are identical Mitchell 31 ft built to work boat codes of practice by JS Mouldings Ltd. They are fitted with twin Sabre Perkins 215 Hp diesels giving a top speed of 21Knots in most conditions. These vessels are the unit’s general patrol craft and are used for high visibility patrols throughout the Solent.
The Rigid Inflatable is an Avon 620 fitted with twin 90 Hp outboards giving a top speed of 37 knots this vessel is used for Specialist operations including Counter Terrorism patrols with the Force Support Unit.
Contact Us
Should you need to contact the Marine Unit, require advice or have information on Marine crime activity please contact: 0845 0454545.
In emergencies always call 999
Email : marine@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
