Armed counter-terrorism officers will be deployed on British cross-Channel ferries for the first time this summer, while information from the UK notes that there was no specific threat to passenger vessels.
Namely, as the Guardian reports, firearms police from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) will be posted on ferries out of Dover, as well as on passenger ships between Newcastle and the Netherlands.
The move aims to enhance security on British ferries, which are unguarded and seen as vulnerable, with passengers not individually searched or given body scans when boardings.
It is understood about 40 CNC officers will be posted on a rotation basis on ferries with a trial starting in July. The CNC has officers available as a result of nuclear power stations being decommissioned.
What is more, a senior counter-terrorism source told the Times that ferries were seen as extremely vulnerable and “completely unguarded”.
Ferries are the weak link when it comes to policing transport against terror attacks. Moving a handful of CNC officers to ferries makes sense and they will be a visible deterrent
Furthermore, a government source confirmed to the Guardian there was “no specific threat to passenger vessels” and the treaty and other cooperation with France formed part of the UK government’s wider strategy to make sure it was able to protect UK citizens against terrorism.
The decision to redeploy CNC officers is part of a plan to extend the force’s remit to enable them to offer services beyond the civil nuclear sector and provide support to other police forces.
As a matter of fact, a UK-France maritime security treaty was signed in July to improve joint working. It will come into force once the UK and France have completed ratification procedures and aims to mitigate against a high-threat security incident on a ferry or other large vessel in the Channel.
The treaty includes provisions that would enable the UK and France to share security information concerning potential threats, mount swifter and stronger initial responses to serious security incidents, coordinate more efficient joint responses and cooperate more effectively in the aftermath of an attack or incident, a spokesperson said.
