Port of Liverpool Police

Last updated

Port of Liverpool Police
Port-of-Liverpool-police.png
Agency overview
Formed1975
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction Port of Liverpool, UK
EnglandPoliceLiverpoolPort.PNG
Map of Port of Liverpool Police's jurisdiction
Size181 km2
PopulationPort staff and passengers
Operational structure
HeadquartersLiverpool Freeport
Sworn members46 [1]
Agency executive
  • Martin Humphreys, Chief Officer
Divisions7
Facilities
Stations2
Website
Force web site

The Port of Liverpool Police is a non-Home Office ports police force with responsibility for Liverpool, Bootle, Birkenhead, Ellesmere Port and Eastham Dock Estates and Freeports, as well as the Manchester Ship Canal areas in the north-west of England.

Contents

Mandate

The Port of Liverpool police is accountable to the Department for Transport. Its officers receive their long service and good conduct medals from the department. [2]

Role, function and organisation

The Port of Liverpool Police is established under the Mersey Docks and Harbour (Police) Order 1975. [3]

This legislation sets out that constables of the force hold the full powers of the office of constable within the port police area, which is defined as the port and any place within 1 mile of the limits of the port. [4]

The Marine Navigation Act 2013 provides a limited extension to this jurisdiction if a chief constable of a police area consents. This allows port police officers to use police powers in relation to port area policing matters anywhere in the police area where consent has been granted – it does not grant full police powers in relation to non-port policing matters. [5]

As of July 2014, Port of Liverpool Police were applying to the Chief Constable of Merseyside for such consent within Merseyside police area. [6]

The force employs under 50 police officers, of whom five comprise the criminal investigation department. [7] [8]

Vehicles

The force has a number of police vehicles for use and is very well equipped for modern day policing needs. These are generally pickup trucks or 4×4 vehicles, such as Toyotas and Nissans. They are marked with the blue-and-yellow battenburg markings, as well as POLP crest, blue lights and sirens. [9]

Rank structure

The rank structure of the Port of Liverpool Police is smaller than that used in most UK police forces, as shown below.

All officers have the powers of a constable, regardless of rank.

Table of ranks

Port of Liverpool Police rank structure [12]
Rank Constable Sergeant Inspector (Deputy Chief Officer)Chief Officer
Insignia UK police constable epaulette, 2016.svg PS Epaulette.svg Insp.svg n/a

As with Home Office police forces, officers are required to sit and pass the same promotion examinations (Objective Structured Performance Related Examination (OSPRE)) until recently; replaced by Sergeants' or Inspectors' NPPF Step 2 Exam, National Investigators' (NIE) Exam or IPLDP Police Legal Exam) to be considered for promotion to sergeant and inspector. [13] Further promotion within the force falls down to selection, merit and budget allowance.

History

Port of Liverpool Police Vehicle (2012) Port of Liverpool Police Vehicle 20 October, 2012.jpg
Port of Liverpool Police Vehicle (2012)

In its present form, the force has existed since 19 June 1975, when it was created by the Mersey Docks and Harbour (Police) Order 1975. [14] The dock has had a dedicated police force throughout its history, though not always constantly:

The Manchester Ship Canal had a separate police force, the Manchester Ship Canal Police, from its founding in 1893 until 1993. [16]

Jurisdiction

Port of Liverpool Police Toyota 4x4 marked police vehicle (2013) Port of Liverpool Police Princess Parade24 May 2013 006.jpg
Port of Liverpool Police Toyota 4x4 marked police vehicle (2013)

The force has jurisdiction over the whole of the Port of Liverpool as defined by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Act 1971 and its amendments. It also polices the Manchester Ship Canal. However Merseyside Police, as the territorial police force with statutory responsibility for policing the whole of Merseyside has concurrent jurisdiction in the port area.

The Port of Liverpool Police has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Merseyside Police, which sets out how the two forces operate together and the use of certain resources, for example, Merseyside Police custody facilities. [17] The port police responds to the report of all crimes and emergencies within the port area. However, as per the memorandum, Merseyside Police will take over the handling of the following matters whilst assisted by the Port of Liverpool Police:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Mersey</span> Major river emptying into Liverpool Bay

The River Mersey is a major river in North West England. Its name derives from Old English and means "boundary river", possibly referring to its having been a border between the ancient kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria. For centuries it has formed part of the boundary between the historic counties of Lancashire and Cheshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manchester Ship Canal</span> UK canal linking Manchester to the coast

The Manchester Ship Canal is a 36-mile-long (58 km) inland waterway in the North West of England linking Manchester to the Irish Sea. Starting at the Mersey Estuary at Eastham, near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, it generally follows the original routes of the rivers Mersey and Irwell through the historic counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. Several sets of locks lift vessels about 60 ft (18 m) to the canal's terminus in Manchester. Landmarks along its route include the Barton Swing Aqueduct, the world's only swing aqueduct, and Trafford Park, the world's first planned industrial estate and still the largest in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transit police</span> Law enforcement personnel employed by a transit agency

Transit police are specialized police agencies employed either by a common carrier, such as a transit district, railway, railroad, bus line, or another mass transit provider or municipality, county, district, or state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salisbury Dock</span> Dock on the River Mersey in Liverpool, England

Salisbury Dock is a dock on the River Mersey, England, and part of the Port of Liverpool. It is situated in the northern dock system in Vauxhall and is connected to Nelson Dock to the north, Trafalgar Dock to the south and inland to Collingwood Dock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manchester Dock, Liverpool</span> Former dock on the River Mersey, Liverpool, England

Manchester Dock was a dock on the River Mersey in England and a part of the Port of Liverpool. The dock was not part of the interconnected dock system, but was connected directly to the river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mersey Docks and Harbour Company</span> Administrative body of the Port of Liverpool

The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company (MDHC), formerly the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board (MDHB), owns and administers the dock facilities of the Port of Liverpool, on the River Mersey, England. These include the operation of the enclosed northern dock system that runs from Prince's Dock to Seaforth Dock, in the city of Liverpool and the dock facilities built around the Great Float of the Wirral Peninsula, located on the west side of the river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runcorn Docks</span> Inland port in Cheshire, England

Runcorn Docks, originally the Bridgewater Docks, is an inland port on the Manchester Ship Canal in the town of Runcorn, Cheshire, England. It is operated by Peel Ports and handles bulk and project cargo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Elizabeth II Dock</span>

Queen Elizabeth II Dock is a dock situated on the River Mersey at Eastham, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mersey Tunnels Police</span> Specialist police force in Merseyside, England

The Mersey Tunnels Police is a small, specialised, non-Home Office police force that provides policing services for the Mersey Tunnels in Merseyside, England. The force, which comprises fifty one officers from Constable to Chief Police Officer is responsible for effective road policing of the Mersey Tunnels, Approach Roads and Exit Roads. It is privately funded by Merseytravel which in turn reports to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merseyside Police</span> English territorial police force

Merseyside Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Merseyside in North West England. The service area is 647 square kilometres with a population of around 1.5 million. As of September 2017 the service has 3,484 police officers, 1,619 police staff, 253 police community support officers, 155 designated officers and 208 special constables. The force is led by Chief Constable Serena Kennedy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool City Region</span> Combined authority area in Northern England

The Liverpool City Region is a combined authority area in North West England. It has six council areas: the five metropolitan boroughs of Merseyside and the unitary authority of Halton in Cheshire. The city region had a population of 1,571,045 in 2022. Its largest settlement and administrative HQ is Liverpool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Dover Police</span> Port police in Dover, Kent, England

The Port of Dover Police (PoDP) is a non-Home Office ports police force which provides a 24-hour policing service to the Port of Dover, Kent, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Bristol Police</span> British police force

The Port of Bristol Police (PoBP) is a ports police force with responsibility to protect the port complexes and community situated at the mouth of the River Avon on the border between Bristol and Somerset. Officers are attested under powers in legislation derived from the Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tees and Hartlepool Harbour Police</span>

Tees and Hartlepool Harbour Police are a non-Home Office ports police force responsible for Teesport, which is the UK's third largest port and is owned by PD Ports, situated along the south bank of the River Tees in north east England. The harbour police force is over 100 years old and was originally formed under the Harbour, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Portland Police (United Kingdom)</span> British police force

The Port of Portland Police is a non-Home Office ports police force responsible for the Port of Portland in Dorset, United Kingdom.

Liverpool in North West England, is a major British city with significant road, rail, and ferry networks, in addition to an international airport and a well-known dock system. As with most other major UK cities, Liverpool's transport infrastructure is centred on its road and rail networks. Public transport services within the city are controlled and run by Merseytravel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manchester Ship Canal Police</span>

Manchester Ship Canal Police was a police force in the United Kingdom that was responsible for policing the Manchester Ship Canal. It was maintained by the Manchester Ship Canal Company between 26 December 1893, when the canal opened, and 31 January 1993.

Atlantic Gateway, sometimes referred to as Ocean Gateway, is a proposed redevelopment strategy for North West England, centering on the corridor between Greater Manchester and Merseyside. The proposal is for development backed by £50 billion of investment over 50 years, making it one of the most expensive and expansive development projects in UK history.

References

  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 May 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Accountability and Standards of the Port Police Forces". Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2009.
  3. Department for Transport (1 January 1970). "Accountability and Standards of the Port Police Forces". Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  4. "The Mersey Docks and Harbour (Police) Order 1975 (S.I. 1975/1224)". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  5. "Marine Navigation Act 2013". www.legislation.gov.uk. Expert Participation. Retrieved 20 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. "Marine Navigation Act 2013 - Consent by Chief Constable re Ports Police - Written Question 203891 - a Freedom of Information request to Department for Transport". WhatDoTheyKnow. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Annex D – Merseyside and Port of Liverpool Police: Memorandum of Understanding". Accountability and Standards of the Port Police Forces. Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2009. (support)
  9. "Harbour & Port Police | UK Emergency Vehicles". 7 June 2015.
  10. "Port Centric Solutions | We're More Than a Port | Peel Ports".
  11. 1 2 "Protecting places and people – the story of Liverpool's own Port Police". Peel Ports.
  12. "Constable Awards". Cathedral Constables. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  13. "About OSPRE". Advance Training – ADV Systems Ltd. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2009.
  14. "The Mersey Docks and Harbour (Police) Order 1975".
  15. "Our History".
  16. "Manchester Ship Canal Police". Magazine of the Police Memorabilia Collectors Club (149). 13 August 2010.
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. Department for Transport, Great Minster House. "Accountability and Standards of the Port Police Forces". Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2017.