Armed Police Step Up Security on Solent Ferries Amid Rising Concerns
Sea Marshals Idea Dismissed Over Costs
The plan to station four armed police officers on every ferry crossing the Solent as sea marshals was quickly scrapped. Officials realised the policing price tag would be sky-high.
Special Forces Training Intensifies
Now, specialist officers are undergoing tough training to master boarding moving ferries and operating in tricky sea conditions. The goal? Be ready for any threat that emerges on the water.
Armed Police Drills Ramp Up Across Solent
- Police Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) have been spotted conducting exercises throughout the Solent in recent weeks.
- On June 11, armed officers scrambled up a ladder onto Wightlink’s Fishbourne-Portsmouth ferry for a live training.
- By June 22, a staggering 15 armed officers took part in drills at Yarmouth Harbour alongside four police boats patrolling the Western Solent.
Hampshire Police & Home Office Stress Routine Training
Hampshire Constabulary insists these exercises form part of regular checks to test readiness on land and water. They stress there is no specific threat prompting the operation, a stance the Home Office echoes.
A Home Office spokesperson said, “We are constantly working to improve protection for UK citizens, equipping law enforcement to respond to incidents anywhere. We continually evaluate if more capabilities are required.”
Specialist CTSFO Units Involved
Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers (CTSFO) from the Metropolitan Police have led similar drills. Notably, they ran exercises in Totland in January 2021 and on the Isle of Wight last July.
With security tightened, Solent ferry crossings are under sharper watch – but authorities remain tight-lipped on any operational details.
