The Island’s Police Superintendent, Supt Sarah Jackson, has confirmed that the Isle of Wight’s Roads Policing Unit is being merged with the Armed Response Team, whispers of which were reported by Island Echo back in February.
Authorised firearms officers and roads policing officers are currently being trained in both roles to provide greater protection for the Isle of Wight and to make the best use of resources.
Over the past couple of weeks armed response officers from the mainland have been on the Island daily in mainland vehicles to provide firearms cover, with only three authorised firearms officers currently based on the Isle of Wight. Once the merger is complete in April of next year, there will be a total of 8 officers working as both armed response officers and roads policing officers, plus a further two dedicated roads policing officers and one sergeant overseeing the 10 officers.
At present the armed officers travel in two Skoda Octavia Scout Armed Response Vehicles, which also double up as part of the Targeted Patrol Team. On the Roads Policing Unit side, a BMW X5, two BMW motorcycles and an unmarked Skoda are used for their duties, however it is currently unclear as to whether or not new vehicles will be put in place as currently none of the Roads Policing Unit cars are Armed Response Vehicles.
