Port of Portland Police (United Kingdom)

Port of Portland Police
Badge of the Portland Port Police
Flag of the Isle of Portland
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	UK
Legal jurisdiction	Port of Portland and up to 1-mile (1.6 km) from boundary.
Constituting instrument	Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847
General nature	Civilian police
Facilities
Stations	1
Website
www.portland-port.co.uk/portland+port+police

The Port of Portland Police is a non-Home Office ports police force responsible for the Port of Portland in Dorset, United Kingdom.

History

The force was established in 1997 when the Portland Harbour Authority bought the port from the British Government.[1] It is a body of constables attested under section 79 of the Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Act 1847 (as incorporated by Portland Harbour Revision Order 1997).[2][3] The Port Police staff the main entrance to the port 24 hours a day, year-round.[4]

Present day

In February 2018, four new constables were sworn in.[5] In July 2020, the Port Police agreed a memorandum of understanding with the local police force, Dorset Police. This will involve the sharing of assets, improving communication and allowing the collation of information.[6]

Duties

The Port Police guard the main entrance to the port, 24 hours a day, all-year-round.[4]

The Port Police are responsible for ensuring the security and safety of the port and its tenants, employees, users and visitors as well as the international ships visiting the port.

The Port of Portland has its own byelaws (Portland Port General Byelaws 2018) and these are enforced by the Port Police.[7]

Powers

All Port Police officers are sworn in as "special constables" under Section 79 of the Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Act 1847 (HDPCA). The act uses the term 'special constable'; at the time this act was passed 'special constable' meant any constable who was not a member of a territorial police force.

As a result, officers have the full powers of a constable on "any land owned by the harbour, dock, or port and at any place within one mile of any owned land".

Uniform

Portland Port Police officers wear a typical UK Port Police uniform.

• Black t-shirt or white shirt & black tie
• Black trousers
• Black jacket with police markings and rank slide
• Black boots
• Custodian helmet (males) with Portland Port Police helmet badge.[8]
• Peaked cap with black and white checquered cap band and capbadge.[9]

All officers have a "warrant card" which is used to identify their authority as constables.[9]

Rank structure

The rank structure of the Portland Port Police force is as follows:

Rank Structure of the Portland Port Police

Rank	Port police constable	Sergeant	Inspector
Insignia

See also

• Law enforcement in the United Kingdom
• Port police

References

1. Accountability and Standards of the Port Police Forces. Annex H. Portland Port Police Force.
2. Article 3, Portland Harbour Revision Order 1997
3. "About Us » Harbour Authority » Patrols and Policing". Website of Portland Port. Portland Harbour Authority Limited. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
4. "Portland Port Police". Website of the Port of Portland. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
5. "Portland Port Police welcomes new Constables". Website of the Port of Portland. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
6. "Dorset Police pilot partnership with Portland Port Police". www.dorset.police.uk. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
7. "Portland Port General Byelaws 2018" (PDF). Portland Harbour Authority.
8. "New police constables are protecting our shores from an ever-increasing security threat". 3 March 2018.
9. "New police constable at Portland Port Police sworn in at Weymouth Magistrates' Court". 8 March 2021.

External links

• Official website