Role of the Marine Support Unit

Report: 8
Date: 6 Jan 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report outlines the role of the Marine Support Unit in supporting the priorities and policing objectives of the Metropolitan Police Service.

A. Recommendation

That Members are asked to note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

1. The Metropolitan Police Service has been involved in policing the river Thames and the capital’s other inland waterways since 1839, when the Police Act saw the Marine Police (a private police force) subsumed into the Metropolitan Police Force, forming Thames Division. Thames Division continued this style of policing until the late 1990’s when the process of change began to take place. An in depth inspection and review of Thames Division led to sweeping changes and on 4 September 2000 the Marine Support Unit (MSU) came into being as a part of the new Operational Support Operational Command Unit (OS OCU). The OS OCU comprises the Air Support Unit (ASU) and the Dog Support Unit (DSU) in addition to the MSU.

2. The changes that led to the formation of the MSU were significant. Primarily, Thames Division had focussed the majority of its activity on policing the river with little activity taking place elsewhere. Since the demise of London’s docks, there had been a commensurate fall in crime on the river. As a consequence, Thames Division’s priority was to provide an emergency response Search & Rescue (SAR) capability on the river Thames. At the same time the number of stations, vessels and most importantly staff levels were reduced and continued to be cut year by year.

3. During 1999 it was recognised that although there was little crime on the river Thames itself, crime was still being committed on London’s waterways, predominately on the canal systems and away from the river. The river however still provided a potential target for terrorists and effectively was an open corridor to the heart of the capital.

Restructuring

4. In light of the 1998 Crime & Disorder Act, Thames Division was restructured to form the new Marine Support Unit, providing a support service to the 32 MPS BOCUs and other units within the MPS.

5. The MSU has concentrated on tackling crime & disorder on London’s inland waterways and conducting counter terrorist activity on the river Thames and elsewhere. With the advent of the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) assuming statutory responsibility for SAR on the river Thames in January 2002, the MSU has progressively withdrawn from its former search and rescue role. This withdrawal is now complete leaving the very valuable yet finite resources of the MSU free to concentrate on core policing activity.

6. Since the catastrophic events of September 11th, the MSU has been heavily involved in public safety & security issues impacting on this unique environment. The MSU has made great inroads into securing the capital and continue to conduct research in this field. In so doing, the work of the MSU directly supports the MPS vision of making London the safest major city in the world.

7. The primary responsibility of the MSU is the policing of all London’s waterways, with particular focus on the following two priorities:

• To increase the security of the capital against terrorism.
• To create safer communities for Londoners.

8. The MSU is divided into three portfolios each led by an inspector, they are:

• 24 Hour Response
• Operations Intelligence and Tasking
• Underwater Search, Identification, QA and Support.

24 Hour Response

9. This portfolio is responsible for the delivery of an emergency response on the river Thames and to any other inland waterway system in the capital. The officers respond to all such emergency calls, some of which involve the search & rescue agencies on the river Thames, the MCA and the RNLI. MSU officers also deal with all critical incidents on the river Thames and elsewhere on London’s inland waterway systems. In addition to emergency response work, the officers are tasked at the commencement of each tour of duty with counter terrorist security activity.

Operations Intelligence and Tasking

10. The Operations portfolio comprises the Proactive Operations Teams, The Intelligence & Operations Unit and the Specialist Search Teams.

11. The Proactive Operations Teams are used through the TP London Crime Squad Tasking Group in direct support of specific crime initiatives such as Operation Safer Streets or Operation Safer Homes in areas that border the river. Other work will frequently involve counter terrorist activity.

12. The Intelligence & Operations portfolio undertakes all operational planning, information & intelligence gathering, briefing & tasking for the MSU. This work involves partnership working with other agencies in the field of counter terrorism.

13. The MSU has a full time Underwater & Confined Space Search Team (UCSST), who carries out defensive counter terrorist searches at any of London’s waterways or in any of London’s myriad confined spaces e.g. sewers. They also undertake crime scene searching at such locations. All members of the UCSST are trained to a recognised national standard as police divers and in the discipline of confined space searching.

Security

14. The MSU is an active participant in all security planning forums where the MPS is represented, providing in depth knowledge of potential security implications associated with the use of waterways.

C. Equality and diversity implications

The MSU recognises that much still needs to be done to attract more female and visible ethnic minority officers to the Unit. As part of our on going involvement in MPS and MSU diversity issues, in conjunction with the Diversity Directorate, the MSU have made strenuous efforts in promoting their work with Open Days specifically targeting female and visible ethnic minority officers. This has resulted in a marked increase in female staff since MSU inception but there is still no visible ethnic minority police staff. The MSU (together with the Air Support Unit and Dog Support Unit) regularly attend the Fresher Fairs at Peel Centre to showcase careers to recruits at Hendon. The MSU have participated in careers fairs, some of which specifically targeted visible ethnic minority officers.

The MSU's selection process (which involves a swimming test) has been reviewed to ensure it does not disadvantage any sector of the police workforce. This has led to the timed element of the swimming test being withdrawn, making the test fairer.

D. Financial implications

The cost of the MSU is contained within agreed budgets. Local expenditure and budgetary control is comprehensively reported in the OCU monthly management report.

Additional counter terrorist activity undertaken by the MSU has been supported by successful bids to the counter terrorism fund.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Alan King Chief Inspector, MPS.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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