Belfast Harbour Police
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
|agencyname = Belfast Harbour Police
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|abbreviation = BHP
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|logo = Belfast_Harbour_Police_Badge_and_Logo.png
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|motto = ‘an effective, connected community police service’
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|formedyear = 1847
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|employees = 50
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|legaljuris = Belfast Harbour Estate
|governingbody = Port of Belfast
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|constitution1 = Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Act 1847
|police = Yes
|local = Yes
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|oversightbody = Belfast Harbour Corporation
|headquarters = Milewater Basin, Dufferin Road, Belfast
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|sworntype = Police Officer
|sworn = 40 (2024)
|unsworntype = Police Support Staff
|unsworn = 10
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|chief1name = Chief Officer
|chief1position =Michael Daly
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|boat1type = Red Bay Stormforce 750 RIB
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|website = {{url|https://www.belfast-harbour.co.uk/harbour-estate-access/belfast-harbour-police}}
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File:Harbour Police car, Belfast, June 2010.JPG
The Belfast Harbour Police is a small, specialised ports police force, with responsibility for the Port of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1847,{{Cite web|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/shippingports/ports/accountabilityreview?page%3D19|title=Accountability and Standards of the Port Police Forces|access-date=25 September 2021|archive-date=19 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619065529/http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100209081026/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/shippingports/ports/accountabilityreview?page%3D19|url-status=bot: unknown}} making it the oldest continuously-operating law enforcement agency on the island of Ireland.
Powers
Officers of this force are sworn in as 'special constables' under section 79 of the Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Act 1847. As a result, officers have the full powers of a constable on any land owned by the Belfast Harbour Authority and at any place within one mile (1.6 km) of any owned land. The extent of Belfast Harbour includes the George Best Belfast City Airport, though policing of the airport by the Harbour Police was discontinued in February 2009.[http://www.belfast-harbour.co.uk/documents/20758PoliceReport_v10.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204045208/http://www.belfast-harbour.co.uk/documents/20758PoliceReport_v10.pdf|date=4 December 2014}} The force consists of thirty constables, eight sergeants, one inspector, one chief officer and ten civilian support staff (2024). Whilst on duty, BHP officers are armed, which is believed to be a unique situation amongst the small number of privately owned ports police services across the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/41/4120bf5d-c04d-4b5a-81ba-c0d3bd433073.pdf|title=Belfast Harbour Police : An Inspection of the Belfast Harbour Police|date=May 2008|publisher=Cjini.org|access-date=21 November 2014|archive-date=20 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220025815/http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/41/4120bf5d-c04d-4b5a-81ba-c0d3bd433073.pdf|url-status=live}} The service may also enforce the Belfast Harbour Commissioners' by-laws, giving them more powers specific to the harbour.
Officers
Belfast Harbour Police consists of uniformed police officers incorporating five Sector Teams, a Roads Policing Unit (RPU) and a Criminal Justice Unit (CJU) who provide 24-hour cover throughout the 2,000-acre Harbour Estate, including almost 17 miles of roads. Their vehicles are equipped with Tracker stolen vehicle detection devices. Officers are armed with the Glock 17 9mm pistol.
Uniforms
Unlike the green uniforms worn by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, BHP officers wear a black and white uniform, similar to those worn by police officers in Great Britain. Also unlike the PSNI, BHP also uses the standard black and white police sillitoe tartan insignia on their forage caps and the rank insignia for the rank of sergeant incorporates the downturned chevrons, again similar to police agencies in Britain.{{cite web |url=https://www.belfast-harbour.co.uk/corporate/policing/ |title=Belfast Harbour - Policing |access-date=2011-05-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719003407/http://www.belfast-harbour.co.uk/corporate/policing |archive-date=19 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}
Any major or serious crime and incidents such as murder, acts of terrorism or armed robbery are the responsibility of the local territorial police force, the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Equipment
Like most Northern Ireland police or public security services, BHP officers are regularly armed and are equipped with the Glock 17, previously being equipped with six-shot revolvers.{{Cite web |url=https://www.belfast-harbour.co.uk/uploads/media/default/0001/01/afb84b7f872ce959adb44d9ca72a42f86f04cb30.jpeg |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 September 2021 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708181057/https://www.belfast-harbour.co.uk/uploads/media/default/0001/01/afb84b7f872ce959adb44d9ca72a42f86f04cb30.jpeg |url-status=live }} Officers also carry typical UK police equipment, including a radio, baton, and incapacitant spray.
Vehicles
BHP use cars including Skoda Kodiaq SUVs, Kia Sportages, land Rover Freelanders and two BMW Motorcycles {{Cite web|url = https://www.flickr.com/photos/belfaststephen/41392987504|title = Belfast Harbour Police|date = 14 May 2018|access-date = 25 September 2021|archive-date = 25 September 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210925135239/https://www.flickr.com/photos/belfaststephen/41392987504|url-status = live}}{{Cite web|url = https://www.flickr.com/photos/nick19/27358385916/|title = Belfast Harbour Police / VFZ 1255 / Land Rover Freenlander / Incident Response Vehicle|date = 29 May 2016|access-date = 25 September 2021|archive-date = 25 September 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210925135239/https://www.flickr.com/photos/nick19/27358385916/|url-status = live}}{{Cite web|url = https://www.flickr.com/photos/belfaststephen/42180762232|title = Belfast Harbour Police|date = 19 May 2018|access-date = 25 September 2021|archive-date = 25 September 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210925135240/https://www.flickr.com/photos/belfaststephen/42180762232|url-status = live}}{{cite tweet|number=1194235005746200576|user=BelfastHarbour|title=Congratulations to Constable McGuigan who is the first ever Police Motorcyclist in @BelHarPolice after successfully… |date=12 November 2019}}
to patrol the harbour. Vehicles are equipped in typical UK police blue and yellow style "Battenberg" colour scheme, with blue lights and 'Harbour Police' wording.
There is also a police launch.{{cite web | url=https://www.belfast-harbour.co.uk/news/belfast-harbour-police-invests-inwater-safety-with-new-state-of-293/ | title=Belfast Harbour Police Invests in Water Safety with New State-of-the-Art Policing Boat | date=21 June 2021 }} This was manufactured by Redbay Boats in Cushendall, and also supports Belfast Harbour Police’s joint operations with Lagan Search and Rescue, PSNI and Border Force.
The ‘Bowstead’, is named after John Bowstead, the first Constable appointed to police the quays in Belfast in 1824.
See also
References
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External links
- [http://www.policememorial.org.uk/index.php?page=belfast-harbour-police Roll of Honour]
- [https://www.flickr.com/groups/belfastharbourpolice/ Images of Belfast Harbour Police on Flickr]
{{UK private and military police forces}}
{{Police forces in Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
Category:1847 establishments in Ireland
Category:Government agencies established in 1847