Marine officers with Dorset Police have received a significant upgrade in resources with the arrival of two new purpose built vessels – a flybridge motor yacht and an 11 metre tactical rib.
These replace Dorset Police’s old boat Buccaneer, and will be based at Poole Quay from where they will patrol the length of the Dorset coastline, so should be spotted regularly from Swanage.
Dorset Police assistant chief constable Steve Lyne (right) takes care with his big scissors, alongside Reverend Canon Simon Evans (left) and Dorset police and crime commissioner David Sidwick (centre)
Paid for by the Home Office
The new boats were blessed by the Reverend Canon Simon Evans in a short ceremony at Poole Quay on Tuesday 6th May 2025.
The vessels, secured with funding from the Home Office, will play a key role in searching for people who have gone missing at sea or along the coastline, as well as tackling marine-related crime including anti-social behaviour at sea like speeding boats and jet skis.
They will also be able to transport specially trained officers and equipment to incidents, as well as providing visible marine patrols along the coastline.
The Dorset Police marine officers are happy to get their hands on the well equipped vessel
Reversal of fortune for marine team
Dorset Police say that with the new capabilities, the marine officers will be able to stay at sea for longer and provide an improved service.
This means they will be better equipped to work with the RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews.
In 2013, the Dorset Police marine section was nearly closed down due to cuts and only saved due to financial support from Poole Harbour Commissioners, so this news of over a million pounds worth of investment is a reversal of fortune for the marine team.
Long overdue improved capability to patrol Poole Harbour and the Dorset Coast
“Deterrent for any anti-social behaviour or criminality”
Assistant chief constable Steve Lyne, of Dorset Police, said:
“These new additions to our marine fleet, funded by the Home Office, allow us to better serve our communities and ensure we can put our specialist resources in the right places.
“This enhancement is a huge step forward for Dorset Police, providing us with the ability to serve the marine community using fit-for-purpose vessels for many years to come.
“We cover a large coastal area with 96 miles of Jurassic coastline in Dorset and it is only right that we have the capabilities to respond to an incident on the water in the same way that we would on land.
“The boats will enable us to be more visible on the water, providing a deterrent for any anti-social behaviour or criminality. They will also strengthen the way we work with our partners, such as HM Coastguard and the RNLI.
“These vessels provide us with a great opportunity to engage with the marine community and anyone who is out enjoying a day on the water in our county.”
Invictus is an 11 metre Ultimate Boats tactical rib
The Sargo flybridge boat called Sentinel has an impressive top speed of 48 knots
Significantly improved capability
The first boat is called Invictus and is an 11 metre Ultimate Boats tactical rib. It has a top speed of around 44 knots and is easier to manoeuvre than the larger police motor boat.
The second vessel is a Sargo flybridge boat called Sentinel which will provide the team with significantly improved capability to patrol the coastline, day or night and in severe weather conditions.
It carries 1,100 litres of fuel and can travel up to approximately 500 nautical miles on a full tank, with a top speed of 48 knots allowing for a rapid response to an incident.
This compares to Swanage RNLI’s Shannon and D class lifeboats which have a top speed of around 25 knots, although the Shannon is capable of going faster but it’s not optimal. Poole RNLI’s B class Atlantic 85 has a top speed of around 35 knots.
Patrolling along the Jurassic Coast
“Help keep people safe”
Dorset police and crime commissioner David Sidwick said:
“Every year, thousands of people flock to Dorset to enjoy what our fantastic coastline has to offer, and these new cutting-edge vessels will not only enhance the force’s capability to enforce the law along our coastline, but help keep people safe, and deliver on our commitment to marine communities.”
Further information
- More about Dorset Police
