UK Policing at the 2022 Southampton International Boat Show
UK Policing will be at one of the biggest boat shows in the country this month, highlighting the work that the Marine Units undertake policing the county’s marine communities, as well as raising awareness of steps that can be taken to prevent the theft of marine equipment.
Marine teams from police forces across the UK, supported by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (Police CPI), will have a stand at the Southampton International Boat Show, joining over 550 exhibiting brands and 650 craft of all shapes and sizes at the show, which is now in its 53rd year and runs from Friday 16th to Sunday 25th September.
Visitors to the show, held at Europe’s largest purpose-built show marina in Mayflower Park, Southampton, will have the opportunity to speak with officers about Project STORM marine security advice and Project Kraken, the national initiative to increase public awareness of terrorism and criminal or suspicious activity at marinas, moorings or on water.
National Maritime Policing lead, ACC Jim Nye, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for members of Marine Policing Teams to come together at the country’s largest marine show and meet with visitors. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our stand at the Southampton International Boat Show to demonstrate the outstanding work our police teams contribute tackling criminality around our island and hear from those who are on the water for pleasure.”
Guy Ferguson, CEO of Police CPI, says, “We are at the show again this year as we want to prevent marine theft. The show is the perfect opportunity for us to support officers from the UK’s police marine units as they talk to the boat owners and water sports enthusiasts, raising awareness to prevent boats or their equipment being stolen.”
Further information, police advice on marine security and security products which have achieved the ‘Police Preferred Specification’, visit https://www.securedbydesign.com/southampton-boat-show-2022
Police advice is to always think STORM when looking at marine security:
Security – physical security measures
Track – property marking & tracking systems
Observe – keep an eye on your marina / sailing club
Report suspicious activity
Monitor at all times – CCTV and alarms
STORM
Security (physical security measures)
Make sure your cockpit lockers are properly locked and keep unused ropes, fenders and other items out of sight. Check that your main hatch and fore-hatch are locked with a Secured by Design approved padlock. Think about having a small Secured by Design approved safe or security cabinet onboard to store small valuable items. If your boat is stored on a trailer, take extra steps to make sure that it’s secure. At the very least you should have a Secured by Design approved wheel clamp, hitch lock and ground anchor system.
Track (property marking & tracking systems)
Security marking your outboard and electronic equipment using a Secured by Design recognised forensic asset marking or etching kit is a highly effective, visible deterrent to thieves and an established method of reducing theft. Keep a record of serial numbers on valuables like your radio, navigation equipment or outboard motor, chassis and model numbers for trailers and take note of any custom marks on the trailer or boat. Keep a copy of the list at home and on your boat. Take colour photographs from several angles and additionally take a video with a smartphone.
Fit a Tracking system – consider using a tracking system on your boat or yacht and especially your outboard engine to increase the chances of recovery. They activate once the vessel or outboard is stolen and alert the tracking company who use GPS systems and other communication technologies to locate the stolen property in the UK and importantly overseas. Secured by Design have several members which specialise in this area and can advise on the best system for you.
Observe (keep an eye on your marina / sailing club)
Most marinas have on-site CCTV and restrict access to the site, however, you still need to look out for each other and be a good neighbour. Get to know other boat owners in your marina and work together to keep the marina secure.
Keep an eye on other boats, as well as your own. Always keep the marina gate closed. Don’t give your marina access card or key to other people. Never tell anyone else the access code to the marina. Don’t let strangers into the marina, however genuine they may seem.
Report suspicious activity
Report any strangers at the marina to the harbour master or yard master. Be vigilant at all times in and around the water and report anything suspicious to the Police. Use the 101 facility for passing information or 999 in an emergency.
Monitor at all times (CCTV and alarms)
It’s a good idea to fit an alarm and use a visible sticker to say that one is installed. If you don’t have mains power, consider using a battery-operated GSM mobile alert system and camera which can alert you to anything suspicious or if the main hatch has been opened.
If you have pontoon facilities and Wi-Fi technology there are systems which can be linked to your phone and tablet to alert you to any activation, allowing you to view your boat or yacht in real time. For further information about alarms visit the Secured by Design Alarm Advice page.
CCTV can be a deterrent and help protect your boat or yacht.
Secured by Design
Police CPI’s Secured by Design initiative operates an accreditation scheme on behalf of the UK Police Service for products or services that have met recognised security standards. These products or services – which must be capable of deterring or preventing crime - are known as being of a ‘Police Preferred Specification’.
The Police Preferred Specification scheme has been operating for over 20 years. It requires that a security product meets or exceeds the performance expectations as documented within the relevant security standard for that type of product. It ensures that the product is sufficiently robust to resist physical attack by casual and opportunistic criminals. The SBD focus is on the critical factors that combine to deliver a product’s performance - design, use, quality control and the ability to deter or prevent crime.
The Secured by Design website http://securedbydesign.com contains details of the many hundreds of companies who produce thousands of individual attack resistant crime prevention products in more than 30 different categories that have met the exacting Police Preferred Specification. This includes doors, windows, external storage, bicycle and motorcycle security, locks and hardware, asset marking, alarms, CCTV, safes, perimeter security products and many others.
SBD is the only way for companies to obtain police recognition for security-related products in the UK. If the product is not listed on the SBD website, it’s not currently a Secured by Design accredited product.
To find out more about protecting your boat and about security products which have achieved Police Preferred Specification, visit: https://www.securedbydesign.com/guidance/crime-prevention-advice/vehicle-crime/marine-security-advice-project-storm