Waterway patrols
Officers patrol waterways as part of preventative policing and public-safety activity.
United Kingdom Police Service
Marine Police Units
Marine Police Units provide specialist policing on and around waterways, helping protect communities, vessels, passengers and the wider maritime environment.
What are Marine Police Units?
Specialist officers who bring policing expertise to rivers, canals, ports, lakes and coastal waters.
Marine Police Units are specialist teams responsible for policing waterways and supporting the wider police service in maritime environments. Their work can cover a wide range of incidents and responsibilities, including responding to reports on the water, supporting searches, assisting other emergency services and helping maintain safety around busy waterways. Marine officers may work from specialist vessels and alongside colleagues from other policing and emergency-service teams. Their environment can be very different from conventional land-based policing, requiring officers to understand the particular challenges associated with working around water. As well as responding to incidents, marine officers can contribute to preventative policing, community engagement and the protection of people who use waterways for work, travel, recreation and leisure. The role combines traditional policing responsibilities with specialist knowledge of the maritime environment.
Policing beyond the shoreline
Marine Police Units operate in environments where ordinary policing methods may not always be suitable. Officers use specialist vessels and maritime skills to support public safety and policing operations on waterways. They can work alongside land-based officers and other emergency services, helping provide a coordinated response when incidents occur on or around the water.
What do Marine Police Units do?
Marine policing encompasses a broad range of specialist responsibilities.
Incident response
Marine officers can respond to incidents occurring on or around waterways and provide specialist assistance to other police teams.
Search support
Specialist marine resources can support searches for people or property in aquatic environments.
Public safety
Officers help promote safe use of waterways and respond to situations where people may be at risk.
Crime prevention
Marine teams contribute to preventing and investigating crime connected with waterways, vessels and waterfront areas.
Multi-agency working
Marine officers may work with other police teams, coastguard services, fire and rescue services, ambulance services and maritime organisations.
At a glance
- Specialist
- Maritime policing
- 24/7
- Emergency capability
- Team
- Multi-agency response
- Wide
- Range of environments
Marine officers receive additional skills and training relevant to policing around water.
Specialist marine resources may form part of an emergency response when incidents occur on waterways.
Marine policing often involves cooperation between different emergency and maritime organisations.
Marine policing can cover rivers, canals, lakes, ports, harbours and coastal areas depending on the policing organisation.
Interested in marine policing?
Marine policing combines conventional police responsibilities with specialist maritime skills. It can be a demanding and varied area of policing for officers interested in working in a water-based environment.
Frequently asked questions
A Marine Police Unit is a specialist police team responsible for policing waterways and supporting other officers and emergency services in maritime environments.
Depending on the police organisation, marine units may operate on rivers, canals, lakes, ports, harbours and coastal waters.
Their work can include responding to incidents on or around waterways, supporting searches, assisting people in difficulty and providing specialist assistance to other policing teams.
No. Marine officers can undertake a variety of policing duties both on the water and around waterfront areas.
Yes. Marine policing can involve close cooperation with police colleagues and organisations such as fire and rescue services, ambulance services and maritime authorities.
Officers need strong communication, teamwork, decision-making and general policing skills, together with specialist knowledge and training appropriate to working around water.
Learn more about marine policing
Marine policing arrangements differ between police organisations and locations. For information about local services, recruitment or specialist policing opportunities, consult the relevant police force or official maritime organisation.
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Ryan Bradley
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Jack Thompson
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Superintendent
Liam Darch
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Jamie Dickins
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