North Yorks sign new deal on underwater search unit
North Yorkshire police have signed a contract for underwater searching in a deal that could save thousands of pounds, the force has announced.
Northumbria Polices Underwater Search Unit will provide diving services for North Yorkshire Police. They will also offer marine capability.
ACC David Collins said regional sharing of specialist resources such as this was the future of many aspects of policing.
“This is a prime example; our own UWSU costs nearly £100,000 a year and makes an average of 13 operational dives a year. New members have to be highly trained at considerable cost, and all divers skills must be updated with practice dives and with training courses that must be paid for and which take them away from their regular duties.
“The alternative is that for a very much smaller sum we can have the services of a Northumbrian team with a high reputation among the other forces who use their services. The York-based UWSU a sergeant and six constables can concentrate full-time on their other duties, meaning extra front-line policing for North Yorkshire.”
Mr Collins emphasised that the new system does not affect rescue or response to emergency situations. “USWU have always done exactly what their name describes they search underwater.
“They are not an emergency unit rushing to save the lives of a person in difficulty; their job is to recover items or, sadly, bodies.”