Boarding of fishing boats ‘unrealistic’

Police have warned it is “unrealistic and impractical” to expect officers to board North Sea vessels to enforce fishing rules after the Brexit transition.

Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr told MSPs on the policing sub-committee at Holyrood there needed to be a “bit of realism” about the force’s capabilities.

And he raised concerns “tensions” could boil over next year, including at fishing ports in Scotland.

Uncertainty has surrounded the UK’s ability to police its waters after leaving the Common Fisheries Policy, which currently determines how many fish countries can catch in different areas.

While giving evidence on Police Scotland ’s preparations for Brexit, Mr Kerr was asked about the role of the force in policing illegal fishing, smuggling and port closures.

He said: “There needs to be a bit of realism as well about what can practically be done offshore, as opposed to what evidence we can gather, the role of police in Scotland, onshore.

“Obviously this relates to activity outwith the EEZ, so the European Economic Zone, which is set at 12 nautical miles.

“But, in the middle of the winter, in the middle of the North Sea, it’s unrealistic and impractical for Police Scotland to be thinking about, even in terms of our preparation, looking at practical boarding of fishing vessels which are 13 or 14 miles out into the North Sea, in the middle of January.

“That just isn’t going to happen, realistically.

“So what we’re looking at is contingencies wi t h protocols to gather evidence where there have been breaches and to make sure that onshore we can actually start to address those and, if necessary, engage with the Crown to see what offences have been committed.”

Issues relating to fishing were just one of the potential problems on the radar for bosses at Police Scotland ahead of what they expect to be a busy year in 2021.

Warning of the possibility of a cumulative impact of a no- deal Brexit and the pandemic, Mr Kerr said: “As we enter 2021, as the winter weather worsens, hopefully we don’t end up with a pandemic flu on top of Covid-19, but next year is going to be very busy, anyway.

“There are a whole range of issues, not least the backdrop of constitutional, economic and ongoing operational issues, and all of those things will compound as the year continues.

“So we are just looking at all the risks to see how we can actually minimise the impact of those to the people of Scotland, and the disruption to Scotland.

“But, inevitably, there will be some – particularly if there is a non-negotiated outcome before December 31.”

Meanwhile, the policing sub-committee also heard from Detective Chief Superintendent Patrick Campbell about the “really significant” impact of the loss of the European Arrest Warrant, and shared information systems, after the Brexit transition.

He said new systems were being developed, but they would“result in slower, more bureaucratic processes” that are “sub optimal”.

NORTH SEA: Police Scotland have issued a warning over imposing post-Brexit rules.