A Red Jet crew member was arrested by Police in front of concerned passengers earlier this morning (Friday) as part of an investigation into an allegation of intentional strangulation and common assault.
Shortly before 09:00, officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary arrived at Town Quay in Southampton and boarded the hi-speed Red Jet 4 vessel.
In front of passengers, Police led a member of the crew off the vessel and up the gangway to an awaiting Police vehicle.
Initially, it was thought that a family emergency had led to the arrival of the Police, but it has now been confirmed that a 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of common assault and intentional strangulation.
He remains in custody at this time.
Shortly after the arrest, Red Funnel tweeted to announce that the 09:35 sailing from West Cowes to Southampton had been cancelled due to ‘critical crew availability’. It’s understood that this is because the 09:00 sailing was unable to depart Southampton due to the sudden disappearance of the crew member.





























































































More delightful non Islanders gracing our shores.
Actually he lives on the island. Thicko!
Actually, according to the CP, he’s from Portsmouth and the offence did not take place at Red Funnel or on the ferry.
And the closest he gets to “our shores” is when the Red Jet docks in Cowes.
So you are both “thickos”.
When a vile member of the public is foul mouthing a worker some members of public need strangling and just to clarify your silly statement it was a islander that was vile
Well……bugger me side ways.
This chap could have stranguled any of us,
well done police men.
Definition of this please STRANGULED is it a word or have you just made it up?
Wighxit here we come. Im glad to see the bigoted attitude is not solely in mainland england.
I only come here for the bigots. So many comment on these stories.
When will both ferry firms learn that employing a couple of multi skilled personnel to cover sickness, holidays and staff leaving can benefit both their reputation and customer service? I realise that being multi skilled is a dirty word these days, but many of us were trained in more than one aspect of our jobs which only added to our skill sets and further employment prospects. Are these companies so bereft of any idea of the need for reliable ferries, especially as we are now going to have to travel for medical treatment a lot more than previously, that they cannot employ a couple of sailors to protect their reputations.
Red Funnel is a private company.
The only issue, for them, is one of profitability. If unreliable ferries don’t cost them money then there is no incentive to improve.
And, before you say it. No, there are no conditions that can be imposed on them with regard to reliability and punctuality. As long as they abide by MCA safety rules they can do what they like.
Was he a pirate perhaps?
“Intentional strangulation”? Was it an octopus Woking for Red Jet??
Honestly this company can’t get any worse. They’re in a crisis. The whole infrastructure is outdated, not equipped, not trained, I could go on. Get with the times, have a contingency plan keep the island connected for frequent commuters and life changing events – hospital etc your boats are awful, your staff are not empathetic or live in the real world when cancellations cause chaos. Fran get your self together and realise the shit storm you’ve caused. Bob Seely get your ass in gear also!
Oh dear. Another one who just doesn’t get it.
Private company. Private profit.
YOU don’t ‘get it’
BP. are a private company, yet the Gov still windfall tax them as they ‘dared’ to make a profit.
Never gave them a handout when the Gulf oil spill almost broke them though.
Now if banks, which are supposed to be privatised now like Lloyds dare declare a profit next week, the baying mob of sponging poor will be crying out for more taxes to fund their feckless pointless existence of selfishly adding more ‘poor’ into their world, which IF you were a decent person you wouldn’t IF like was soooo dire.
Just greedy spongers.
Banks are notoriously poor on giving anything away just look at Lloyd’s savers rates so poor it’s not worth having ditch and switch like I did and so many more .
they like huge profits but like to keep it to themselves ,,,, greedy
Shut up smiffy
What are you, a 3 year-old?
Maybe you should stick your fingers in your ears and go “la la la not listening” or have a full on screaming tantrum on the floor.
I mean, that IS what toddlers do when they are told truths they don’t like, isn’t it?
Oh the irony!
Grow a beard smiffy
Surely the rozzers could have been a bit more discrete and less conspicuous, i.e. using the suspect’s line manager to summon them to the office and then arrest him there. Police using their power to humiliate an innocent until proven guilty individual is really quite low.
one less staff now more cancellations..