Port of Liverpool Police

Port of Liverpool Police
Agency overview
Formed1975
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionPort of Liverpool, UK
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.

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.

  • Chief officer - The post is currently held by Martin Humphreys.[10][11]
  • Inspector (deputy chief officer) - Stephen Christian.
  • Sergeant - various.
  • Constable - various.

Table of ranks

Port of Liverpool Police rank structure[12]
Rank Constable Sergeant Inspector (Deputy Chief Officer) Chief Officer
Insignia PC Epaulette PS Epaulette 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)

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:

  • From 1811-1837, the Liverpool Dock Police patrolled much the same area until its merger with the Liverpool Borough Police Force
  • In 1852, 40 officers were transferred to the Liverpool Fire Brigade for the purpose of policing the docks[15]
  • In 1865 the River Mersey Police took responsibility for policing these areas until 1920, after which they were policed by territorial forces
  • In 1975, with the passing of the above statutory instrument, the current body was formed. It became fully operational in July 1976[11]

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)

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:

  • Murder
  • Rape
  • Serious life-threatening assaults
  • Armed crime
  • Crime requiring significant or specialist resources to investigate
  • Fatal traffic collisions
  • Large scale disorder
  • Terrorism and subversion
  • Extradition matters[18]

See also

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. ^ a b "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.
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