Mersey Tunnels Police

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Mersey Tunnel Police Training

Initially little training was given experience being gained by the hands on approach, apart from some instruction on the Road Traffic Act, and the Mersey tunnel by-laws. In 1962 there was considerable re-organisation with the appointment of the ex Chief Superintendent Sparks from the Liverpool City police who took up this appointment as Superintendent of the Mersey tunnel police, one of his responsibilities was training which in the beginning was carried out by him, but he later organised training with the Liverpool City police. In 1967 Superintendent Sparks retired and was re-placed by ex Chief Superintendent Ridge also from the Liverpool City police, it was from this time that all future training was carried out internally. On his retirement it was decided that all future MT police Superintendent posts would be filled internally and Inspectors and Sergeants now carried out training after attending the necessary courses to qualify as police instructors. As most incidents that occur in the tunnels are in contravention of the Road Traffic Act, the construction and use Regs or the Mersey tunnel by-laws the emphasis is centred on these acts but the training programme also provides probationer Constables with the necessary skills, knowledge, attitudes and understanding to enable them to carry out their duties as Mersey tunnel police officers in a professional manner. Today the initial training course is sixteen-week duration with some of the time being spent undertaking supervised police duties with a tutor Constable. Constables during their probationary period are monitored as to their performance levels and all officers are kept well informed and up to date with their new legislation or point of law that may affect their efficiency. The course is in modular format and follows very closely Home Office training. Because the Mersey Tunnels Police is a small force compared with others, there was never a need to sit promotion exams as senior officers are well aware of suitability of an officer to fill a vacancy, (as that officer has already filled in for holiday's etc as acting Sergeant or Inspector). This does not mean that it is foregone conclusion that he/she will automatically gain promotion, as the officer would be expected to attend a selection board before a decision was made. The Mersey Tunnel Police also train their officers to deal with any incident or situation that may arise, approximately 85,000 vehicles per day using the tunnels; one of the greatest is a fire or explosion. If a vehicle catches fire it obviously comes to a halt, consequently traffic queues form especially to the rear of the vehicle, normally traffic will have stopped to close to the vehicle in front and as a result the fire could cause a domino effect, the result being tragic. Whilst awaiting the arrival of the emergency service (which could very well be delayed because of the traffic conditions) the Mersey tunnel police would be the first on the scene therefore must be proficient in fire fighting and first aid. These skills are important part of their initially training programme with refresher courses being held every couple of years. Training has improved drastically over the years and the Mersey Tunnel Police can claim the distinction of being the best trained and equipped non Home Office police service in the U.K. 
Last year the Mersey tunnels police dealt with 5,000 incidents. 

When the Mersey tunnel (Queensway) was opened the civilian police used motorcycles and carried no emergency equipment but when the Mersey tunnel police officially took over in 1936 motorcycle combinations were decided to be the best means of transport, it is not recorded if any emergency equipment was carried at this stage but think is highly unlikely because of the limited space. In the 1940's the combinations were gradually phased out in favour of Ford vans, these were black and had windows either side the length of the van, they also had two police stop signs on top front and rear that could be illuminated. The vehicles carried basic emergency equipment, towrope, and bucket of sand, shovel, axe and two fire extinguishers. It was in 1955 that Land Rovers were first brought into service, these vehicles were specially adapted with the back of the cab cut away which gave all round better vision for the driver, sides that dropped down and a top that lifted up for easy access to emergency equipment. These vehicles carried the equipment that was carried in the vans only this time with the addition of extra fire extinguishers and a 'skate' (this was a device made a steel with four small wheels that was used if a car or van had a flat tyre). The skate would be fitted underneath the wheel with the flat tyre which could be towed out of the tunnel, one big advantage of these vehicles had over vans is they converted into 4x4 (four wheel drive) with a push of a lever giving more pulling power. These vehicles also had a raised roof with a police sign central between the bottom of the windscreen and bottom of the cab with the addition of a green light either side. The colours of these vehicles were cream with brown front wing panels that displayed the MTJC crest on either sides also each door had the wording Mersey Tunnel Joint Committee, by 1965 the front panels had been sprayed cream.

This type of vehicle was unique to the Mersey Tunnel Police and was to remain in service with the addition of stream lining until the mid 1970's when it was replaced with the standard Land Rover that could carry more emergency equipment. These vehicles were used in both tunnels. The Land Rover was to remain in service until 1991 when the Land Rover Discovery, which is still in service today, together with Ford Transit vans, the workhorse of the Mersey tunnel police, along with the Ford Galaxy.

All Mersey Tunnel Police vehicles carry quite a comprehensive range of emergency equipment but the Ford Transit's are used to escort dangerous loads through the tunnels, carry considerably more. (See back of the book for list of emergency equipment carried and goods prohibited inside the tunnels without a police escort). All livery and markings are the same as the Home Office police forces throughout the U.K.