§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on port police forces. [153353]
§ Mr. HillWe are setting up a review of the current arrangements for ports police, as proposed in "Modern Ports—A UK Policy", published in November last year. My Department is aiming to review the powers, duties and functions of ports police forces; the advantages or disadvantages of alternative arrangements that have been implemented at those; ports that no longer have port police; how the port police forces compare to Home Office police forces in terms of accountability i.e. management, inspection, complaints procedures, disciplinary matters and training; and report on the current situation and make recommendations for future options for the port police. We will be consulting the ports police forces, the ports industry and users and other Government Departments.