Police on Ferries - Whatever Next?
This image accompanied the Guardian's reporting of this story and its source is here acknowledged Police on ferries? Whatever next? The announcement this week that the government wishes to use the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) to conduct armed patrols on cross channel ferries is an interesting one. On a simple level it is an attempt to close a gap in our counter terrorism defences. The absence of any police presence on ferries is an obvious issue when other means of entering and leaving the UK have more comprehensive security and policing regimes in place. The government press release refers only to cross channel ferries and the route to the Netherlands from Newcastle. This is slightly odd as it means that gaps will continue on other routes. Why will all the patrols be armed? Is this a result of a particular risk assessment (presumably around marauding attacks) or is it the product of the fact that the CNC will be the force deployed and all CNC officers are a