Armed Police Step Up Security on Solent Ferries
Plans to place Armed Police as sea marshals on Solent ferries were scrapped due to sky-high costs. The idea of having four armed officers on each crossing proved too expensive to sustain.
Specialised Training Gears Up
Instead, officers are now getting extra training to handle the tough challenge of boarding moving ferries and carrying out operations in tricky sea conditions.
Recently, several Police RIBs have been spotted practising on the Solent. On June 11, two teams of Armed Police scaled a ladder onto Wightlink’s Fishbourne-Portsmouth ferry for exercises.
By June 22, a whopping 15 armed officers appeared at Yarmouth Harbour after drills involving four police boats in the Western Solent.
Hampshire Constabulary and Home Office Respond
Hampshire Constabulary stresses this is part of their routine training to test skills on land and water. They insist these drills are not a response to any specific threat — a stance echoed by the Home Office.
A Home Office spokesperson said, “We are constantly working to improve protection for UK citizens,” adding efforts focus on equipping law enforcement and emergency crews to react swiftly anywhere.
“We are constantly evaluating whether additional capabilities are required,” they added, refusing to comment on operational details.
Counter Terrorism Specialists Sharpen Their Skills
Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers (CTSFO) from the Metropolitan Police have also been honing their tactics locally. In January 2021, they trained at the former Weston Primary School in Totland. More specialist firearms training took place on the Isle of Wight last July.
With these beefed-up drills, authorities are gearing up to keep ferry crossings safe and secure in the face of any threat.
