Belfast Harbour Police
| Belfast Harbour Police | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | BHP |
|
Logo of the Belfast Harbour Police | |
|
Badge of the Belfast Harbour Police | |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1847 |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Legal jurisdiction | Belfast Harbour Estate |
| Governing body | Port of Belfast |
| Constituting instrument | Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Act 1847 |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Overviewed by | Belfast Harbour Corporation |
| Headquarters | Milewater Basin, Dufferin Road, Belfast |
| Officers | 35 (2009) |
| Facilities | |
| Stations | 1 |
| Website | |
The Belfast Harbour Police is a small, specialised police force with the responsibility of policing the Port of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1847,[1] making it the oldest continuously-operating law enforcement agency in Ireland.
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.[2] The force comprised 28 constables, six sergeants and one chief officer in 2009.[2] 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.[3]
The service may enforce the Belfast Harbour Commissioners' by-laws and consists of uniformed police officers and a CID section who provide 24-hour cover throughout the 2000-acre Harbour Estate, including almost 17 miles of roads.[1] Their vehicles are equipped with Tracker stolen vehicle detection devices.[1]
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 the rest of the United Kingdom. Also unlike the PSNI, BHP also uses the standard black and white police Battenburg markings insignia on their forage caps and the rank insignia for the rank of Sergeant incorporates the downturned chevrons, again similar to police agencies in the rest of the UK.[4]
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.[3]