Hong Kong Marine Police

The Marine Region is a branch of the Hong Kong Police Force, more widely known as the Marine Police. The marine police patrol of waters within the territory of Hong Kong, including 263 islands. The Marine Region with about 3,000 officers, and a fleet of 142 in total, made up of 70 launches and 72 craft is the largest of any civil police force.

Overview

The Marine Region involves about 3,000 officers policing some 13,000 local craft and a total maritime population of 14,100. In addition to normal marine policing functions, the marine police are also responsible for countering illegal immigration and smuggling at sea.

To undertake this work, the Marine Region additionally mount shore patrol to police the smaller islands and isolated communities with no land transport to other parts of the territory, and participate in the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, which is responsible for co-ordinating maritime rescue operations both within and outside Hong Kong waters. The region's headquarters are located at Sai Wan Ho.

Since 2007, the Marine Region has developed a new, two-part operational strategy called Versatile Maritime Policing Response (VMPR) which has come into operation in phases, providing an improved police service at reduced cost with an enhanced Command and Control System and faster craft offering a more flexible policing response.

Organisation

The Marine Region comprises a Regional Headquarters and two sea Districts. The entire region is commanded by a Regional Commander with the rank of Assistant Commissioner, who is assisted by a Chief Superintendent. Each of the three bureaux is commanded by a Senior Superintendent; divisions and units are commanded by Superintendents, who are assisted by Chief Inspectors.

The Region comprises:
* Operations Bureau is responsible for all operational matters at Regional level, including:
** Operations Division
*** Regional Crime Units investigating crimes and syndicated illegal immigration by sea;
*** RCCC;
*** Logistics Unit;
*** Regional Motor Transport Office;
*** Regional Armoury;
** Small Boat Division.
** Crime Marine
*Administration Bureau is responsible for general administration; personnel and establishment matters.
*Support Bureau is responsible for:
** management of the launch acquisition programmes;
** training and assessment of Marine police personnel in navigation, seamanship, engineering, and safety; and
** selection and acquisition of specialist equipment.
** core property strategy in Marine Region

Headquarters

The Marine Region had its headquarters at the Former Marine Police Headquarters Compound in Tsim Sha Tsui until 1996, when they were relocated to Sai Wan Ho. The old headquarters have now become a heritage tourism facility known as ''1881 Heritage''.

Gallery

File:HK SWH Tai Hong Street Marine Police Regional Headquarters sign.JPG, Sai Wan Ho Marine Police Regional Headquarters.
File:HKPolice_MarineNorthDiv_1.jpg, Marine Police North Division.
File:HKPolice MarineNorthDiv.jpg, Marine Police North Division.
File:HKPolice MarineNorthDiv 2.jpg, Marine Police North Division.
File:HK_MarinePoliceEastDivision.JPG, Marine Police East Division.
File:Kat O Marine Police station.jpg, Kat O Police Post.

Fleet

Marine craft
* BSC Marine Group patrol vessels
* Protector (Pacific Forum) class – 6 small patrol boats
* Hong Kong Shipyards Sea Panther-class large command boat