The Essex Police Marine Unit has a new launch to patrol the 350 miles of the county’s coastline from the Stour to the Thames.

The Toby Speller was launched at Bradwell Marina on Saturday, May 9 and is named after a special constable who volunteered with the Marine Unit for six years until his death from Covid-19 in January 2021.

Built in Scotland, the launch is 42 feet long, weighs around seven and a half tonnes and is capable of reaching speeds of up to 35 knots. She has been designed to operate safely in all sea conditions, giving Essex Police the resilience to respond to incidents in all weathers. The unit also has a rigid-hulled inflatable boat,  Sentinel.

Attending the official launch were members of Toby’s family, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hurst, Essex Deputy Lord Lieutenant Charles Anderson and Essex High Sheriff Susannah Dutton. They were joined by police officers and staff, serving and retired, from the Marine Unit who knew Toby and senior officers from Operational Policing Command. Police chaplain Peter Pleydell conducted a naming ceremony and blessing.

Since the Marine Unit launched its Operation Wave Breaker patrols in spring 2021, reported incidents of anti-social behaviour involving personal watercrafthave dropped considerably. The operation has been adopted as best practice nationally by the College of Policing.