New police boat upgrade for Devon and Cornwall
The government funded boat 'Neptune' has been rolled out to tackle serious organised crime
A new support boat is being rolled out for the Marine Policing and Underwater Search team in Devon and Cornwall.
'Neptune' the boat, which is funded by the Government, will help officers deal with everything from drug smuggling to coastal safety.
The boat is also able operate in severe weather, more so than the inflatable boats the police force have been using up until now.
It's part of the Home Office's programme to tackle serious organised crime.
A Devon and Cornwall police spokesperson said "Neptune is a versatile vessel and will be used for a variety of purposes, including water searches, identifying offences and anti-social behaviour at sea and on water, transporting specially trained officers and specialist equipment to incidents and providing reassurance patrols along the coastline.
"It’s a sad fact that although the waters around our two counties are beautiful, they can also be hazardous and every year the police dive team are called to help recover victims.
"Neptune is significantly larger and more stable than the inflatable boats the Force has been using, which will enable the team to stay at sea longer conducting operations.
"It is equipped with state-of-the-art marine electronics, including a long-range stabilised infra-red HD camera and a remotely operated vehicle, an underwater drone, that can search in more tricky conditions."