HC Deb 15 March 1989 vol 149 cc217-8W
Mr. Shersby

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Essex as to (i) the powers of and (ii) the nature of the warrant card required to be carried by special constables employed by Sealink Harbours Ltd. at Parkeston quay and as to which police authority such constables are accountable.

Mr. Portillo

These special constables are employed by Protective Security Systems Ltd. under exclusive contract to Sealink and do not come under the county police authority. The local harbour legislation incorporates a common provision under which persons nominated by the harbour undertaking may be sworn in as special constables for its premises and one mile beyond them. Sealink has stated that these staff will not be used outside port limits, save in emergency and in support of Essex police. They have photocards, issued by Sealink, identifying them as special constables.

Mr. Shersby

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to which police authority special constables employed by Sealink Harbours Ltd. are accountable in cases where members of the public have recourse to the Police Complaints Commission in connection with the actions of any such constable.

Mr. Portillo

Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 authorities other than police authorities which maintain a body of constables may, with the Home Secretary's approval, make agreements with the Police Complaints Authority, establishing police complaints and discipline procedures similar to those laid down in that Act. There is no such agreement at present between the authority and Sealink, which introduced its new security arrangements on 1 February 1989.

Mr. Shersby

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Essex as to whether the special constables employed by Sealink Harbours Ltd. have been trained at district training centres in order that they are able to comply with the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and other legislation to which constables employed in the regular police forces are subject.

Mr. Portillo

I understand that before these staff were sworn in as special constables they took a three-week training course, to which the Essex police contributed, and had to pass a written examination. The security manager and two of his staff formerly belonged to Essex police.