Met Police leads maritime security fight

Police forces around the UK will benefit from a unique maritime risk assessment scheme pioneered by the Metropolitan Police Marine Support Unit

Police forces around the UK will benefit from a unique maritime risk assessment scheme pioneered by the Metropolitan Police Marine Support Unit (MSU). The MSU has built a database of all vessels using the river Thames, and this will now be rolled out across the country to help other forces and agencies to tighten maritime security in their areas.

A spokesman for the MSU’s Regional Marine Intelligence Team said there is a need for “more joined-up thinking and multi-agency co-operation” to help prevent possible terrorist attacks. A coalition led by the MSU, and including the MCA, HM Revenue & Customs, Kent and Essex Police, Port of London Authority, and Border and Immigration Agency, already monitors around 30,000 commercial vessels and 70,000 private boats using the Thames every year.

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