Police's latest weapon is a narrowboat.

[Southern Star]

Police securing the Conservative party conference have gone to new lengths in their fight against crime - by drafting in a narrowboat.

The canal barge, called Galley Pearl, has been unveiled in Birmingham to help the security effort around the conference, which begins tomorrow.

It has been converted to provide an HQ during the conference, which runs at the International Convention Centre (ICC) and Hyatt Hotel until Wednesday.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2771880/Police-latest-weapon-Tory-conference-secure-NARROWBOAT-let-s-hope-don-t-need-rapid-pursuit.html

[Mike Tee]

I hope they get a better mobile connection there than I did earlier this year, otherwise it's open season on conservatives.

[YamYam]

Wonder who's got the toilet job. I can just imagine the police report if something kicks off and there round Sherbourne Wharf unsure if its a pumpout or cassette

Edited September 27, 2014 by YamYam

[Biggles]

Has it got a bowthruster?

[Mac of Cygnet]

I thought only hireboaters used narrowboats as weapons?

[leeco]

It needs blue flashing lights.

[bigste]

Emergencies will be attended to promptly, at 4mph

[john6767]

I see its not a hire boat, so does it have the correct licence and BSC? Who's going to shop them to CRT, if not.

[muddywaters]

Maybe they could go up to New Islington Marina in Manchesster with it when they have finished in Birmingham

[luctor et emergo]

moored with the centreline....

[David Mack]

I thought the Police already had a narrowboat.

[Jim Riley]

Presume they've got a trading licence?

[patty-ann]

Theres a lot of thoughts swirling round over this, it doesn't really seem high tech...more Dixon of Dock green than Scotland Yard.

How many on board? Are they insured for so many and if cassette whose emptying?

And the thought of it giving chase with blue lights flashing at 4mph is worthy of its own TV programme...come next year a sit com could well arise based on this.

[Daiboy]

Great security. They tell everyone about it, show everybody pictures of it so all the baddies have to do is put it out of action by ramming or sinking and the mobile HQ is out of action.

 

Or is it a cunning plan m'Lord ?

[Keeping Up]

How long will it be on the 48 hour moorings?

[bizzard]

Until they've scoffed all their truncheon meat sandwiches.

[Noah T]

Emergencies will be attended to promptly, at 4mph

 

if they have blue flashing light & siren, surely they would be allowed to speed along at 7mph!

[Alf27]

Wonder if the local "fun lovers" will untie it at night !! ??

[Peter X]

Wonder if the local "fun lovers" will untie it at night !! ??

Them and whose army, with some coppers aboard the boat awake 24/7?

Sorry to spoil some of the fun, but it's their HQ, it'll be constantly manned, they can pop into the hotel to use the loo, and it won't be moving or chasing anyone. I'm guessing that they use their own radio system, not mobile phones, and that it's specifically designed to have a good signal anywhere that's more or less in the open.

The conference is a week isn't it?, so they would need a special dispensation if they're staying on a 48 hour mooring, but somehow I have a feeling CRT will bend the odd rule for them.

[bizzard]

I can't see the hotel pooprieter agreeing to a thousand coppers keep trotting back and forth to use their loo, they'd soon be clean out of bog paper for a start. I think the force ought to supply them all with nappies and safety pins for the duration of the conference.

[Liam]

So aswell as stab proof vests, radios and all the other gear they need to carry out their jobs, the local plod will also be sporting life jackets then?

 

Bet the H&S risk assessments are a nightmare!

[Laurie Booth]

I'd love to dap down there and untie it

 

PS

They'r moored on my favorite spot.!!

Mystery hole appears in Birmingham

"Police are looking into it"

[pearley]

Galley Pearl is owned, or was owned owned, by Gerry, the owner of Cuckoo Wharf, the moorings and s/stn being leased to CRT. He showed me over the boat back in 2007 when it already had a 'conference' room as he used it for meetings when the main conference room in the offices was in use.

 

The last time I saw it was at Sherbourne Wharf where it was waiting for the insurance company to authorise repairs after it had been vandalised at Cuckoo.

Edited September 28, 2014 by pearley

[Peter X]

In the photos, I don't see a shoreline, solar panels or generator. Will they run out of electricity after spending 5 days stationary?

[twbm]

In the photos, I don't see a shoreline, solar panels or generator. Will they run out of electricity after spending 5 days stationary?

 

It's on a shoreline.