Hampshire police marine set to be disbanded by 2019
HAMPSHIRE police’s marine unit is set to be axed by next year.
The nine-strong team operates a £1.5m four-boat fleet in the Solent, with responsibilities for tackling terror.
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Hide AdNow it is set to be disbanded by 2019 in a bid to save cash.
It comes as 160 police jobs are to go in a near-£7m cuts plan.
A Hampshire police spokeswoman said: ‘We can confirm that an operational proposal is being put forward to the Police and Crime Panel that the marine unit be disbanded in 2019.’
When Home Office funding of £450,000-a-year was pulled from April last year, Hampshire Police and Crime Panel chairman David Stewart wrote to the UK’s then anti-terror police chief.
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Hide AdHe said it was ‘essential that our local waters are protected by the marine policing unit’.
Officers in the unit cover a range of roles, from counter-terrorism to tackling drug smugglers and human trafficking as well as providing a platform for firearms officers to protect VIPs at major events in the Solent.
The £1m-a-year unit had been part-funded directly from Home Office anti-terror cash and from £550,000-a-year from the force’s grant money.
Sailors in the area have previously criticised a move to axe the unit. Plans have been on the cards since 2015.