I always find it interesting that despite locations, many teams have a lot in common. How many on this forum have complained about poor equipment, lack of manpower, poor management, leaking dry suits, etc. You are NOT alone and even our brothers overseas have similar problems, as evidenced below...
In depths of despair
Sunday, January 28, 2007
By Stephen Gordon
Northern Ireland has been without its own police diving team for a year, Sunday Life today reveals.
The PSNI's crack Underwater Search Unit - acclaimed for its brave work in often treacherous conditions - has been out of action since January 2006 when it was rocked by disciplinary moves against three of its six divers.
The trio were suspended and two more dedicated volunteers, both constables, withdrew their services as differences between divers and management came to a head.
Supporters of the suspended divers claim they are being "scapegoated" for failings in PSNI management.
A disciplinary case has still to be concluded and the PSNI's sole remaining diver cannot dive alone for health and safety reasons.
It has left the PSNI without the services of the unit, which is known for:
Now Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde is considering scrapping the USU and paying private contractors for the service. But police divers have written to Sir Hugh and to Policing Board chairman Sir Desmond Rea calling for the USU to be saved and warning against using civilians for police diving work.
Sources close to the unit have revealed the background to the unit being out of action.
The USU, which was founded in 1981 and is based at Lisnasharragh in east Belfast, once boasted 12 divers.
But by November 2004, partly due to Patten redundancies, its numbers had fallen to just six divers plus a sergeant who headed the team.
For safety reasons a minimum five divers are required for each operation and sources say the remaining divers were put under enormous pressure, carrying out more than 150 operations in 2005.
All the divers are constables who perform regular police duties but are on constant 24-hour call as USU volunteers - for no extra money.
"They are not even provided with mobile phones," said one source, who knows all the officers.
"The strain they were under was incredible. Family lives revolved around the USU. Birthdays, anniversaries, family trips, social occasions were regularly ruined as the men were called away to do dirty and dangerous work for no extra reward.
"The pressure was really telling on the families and the divers. What they had to put up with was unbelievable.
New diving suits were ordered which didn't fit, their cold weather gear leaked. They had suits inherited from former divers.
"Morale was low. The only thing that kept them going was the camaraderie within the unit and the satisfaction they got from doing a good job.
"They were especially proud of the Tullaghmurry Lass operation. They built up good relations with the Green family and were honoured to be asked to carry the coffins at the funeral."
In January 2005 Sir Hugh Orde hosted a special ceremony, attended by members of the Green family, at which the divers were presented with certificates for their work in that painstaking operation.
Twelve months later, the sinking of another fishing boat, The Greenhill off Ardglass with the loss of two men, sparked a crisis.
Sources close to the USU claim divers had warned police chiefs the unit was under-manned and poorly equipped.
Three divers were set to fly out in the early hours of January 20, 2006 for a well deserved foreign holiday, a break from the stress.
It is understood one had earlier ignored advice from a PSNI occupational health officer to take time off sick because of his devotion to the USU.
But on the evening of January 19, two were contacted to report for duty in the Greenhill search the following morning. A third only received a text which he didn't pick up until just hours before flying out on January 20.
The men refused the call to work, saying they were sick.
Supporters claim the men's annual leave had been booked well in advance and the PSNI should have called on divers from another UK force under the 'mutual assistance' programme.
Said one source: "Two of the three men were injured anyway and would have been unfit to dive in the Greenhill operation. The third would not have been able to dive without them, for safety reasons."
But the three cops were suspended from the USU, although not their regular duties, for failing to obey the order to turn up for duty.
A PSNI disciplinary panel - headed by ACC Alastair Finlay - heard evidence in the case for two days in November. It was adjourned and is expected to re-open shortly.
One source close to the divers said: "It is not the divers' fault. I believe they are being scapegoated for management failings.
"Senior officers had been warned the unit was under-resourced and the men were under great stress.
"These men have shown incredible dedication and loyalty to the USU.
"The investigation against them should never have gone so far.
"Now, Sir Hugh Orde is proposing to scrap the USU. But the divers are proud of the USU and want it up and running again after this disciplinary matter is finally resolved.
"They want assurances about manning levels, equipment, call-out status and other issues.
"But they believe binning the USU and getting civilians divers to their work would be a disaster."
In depths of despair
Sunday, January 28, 2007
By Stephen Gordon
Northern Ireland has been without its own police diving team for a year, Sunday Life today reveals.
The PSNI's crack Underwater Search Unit - acclaimed for its brave work in often treacherous conditions - has been out of action since January 2006 when it was rocked by disciplinary moves against three of its six divers.
The trio were suspended and two more dedicated volunteers, both constables, withdrew their services as differences between divers and management came to a head.
Supporters of the suspended divers claim they are being "scapegoated" for failings in PSNI management.
A disciplinary case has still to be concluded and the PSNI's sole remaining diver cannot dive alone for health and safety reasons.
It has left the PSNI without the services of the unit, which is known for:
- Recovering bodies from unpredictable seas, notably finding the remains of three generations of the Green family after their Kilkeel trawler the Tullaghmurry Lass sank in 2002.
- Diving into stinking septic tanks to recover weapons or proceeds of crime.
- Risking life and limb in pitch black canals and rivers, sometimes to recover bodies trapped under debris or in vehicles.
- Vital security searches to protect VIP visitors.
Sources close to the unit have revealed the background to the unit being out of action.
The USU, which was founded in 1981 and is based at Lisnasharragh in east Belfast, once boasted 12 divers.
But by November 2004, partly due to Patten redundancies, its numbers had fallen to just six divers plus a sergeant who headed the team.
For safety reasons a minimum five divers are required for each operation and sources say the remaining divers were put under enormous pressure, carrying out more than 150 operations in 2005.
All the divers are constables who perform regular police duties but are on constant 24-hour call as USU volunteers - for no extra money.
"They are not even provided with mobile phones," said one source, who knows all the officers.
"The strain they were under was incredible. Family lives revolved around the USU. Birthdays, anniversaries, family trips, social occasions were regularly ruined as the men were called away to do dirty and dangerous work for no extra reward.
"The pressure was really telling on the families and the divers. What they had to put up with was unbelievable.
New diving suits were ordered which didn't fit, their cold weather gear leaked. They had suits inherited from former divers.
"Morale was low. The only thing that kept them going was the camaraderie within the unit and the satisfaction they got from doing a good job.
"They were especially proud of the Tullaghmurry Lass operation. They built up good relations with the Green family and were honoured to be asked to carry the coffins at the funeral."
In January 2005 Sir Hugh Orde hosted a special ceremony, attended by members of the Green family, at which the divers were presented with certificates for their work in that painstaking operation.
Twelve months later, the sinking of another fishing boat, The Greenhill off Ardglass with the loss of two men, sparked a crisis.
Sources close to the USU claim divers had warned police chiefs the unit was under-manned and poorly equipped.
Three divers were set to fly out in the early hours of January 20, 2006 for a well deserved foreign holiday, a break from the stress.
It is understood one had earlier ignored advice from a PSNI occupational health officer to take time off sick because of his devotion to the USU.
But on the evening of January 19, two were contacted to report for duty in the Greenhill search the following morning. A third only received a text which he didn't pick up until just hours before flying out on January 20.
The men refused the call to work, saying they were sick.
Supporters claim the men's annual leave had been booked well in advance and the PSNI should have called on divers from another UK force under the 'mutual assistance' programme.
Said one source: "Two of the three men were injured anyway and would have been unfit to dive in the Greenhill operation. The third would not have been able to dive without them, for safety reasons."
But the three cops were suspended from the USU, although not their regular duties, for failing to obey the order to turn up for duty.
A PSNI disciplinary panel - headed by ACC Alastair Finlay - heard evidence in the case for two days in November. It was adjourned and is expected to re-open shortly.
One source close to the divers said: "It is not the divers' fault. I believe they are being scapegoated for management failings.
"Senior officers had been warned the unit was under-resourced and the men were under great stress.
"These men have shown incredible dedication and loyalty to the USU.
"The investigation against them should never have gone so far.
"Now, Sir Hugh Orde is proposing to scrap the USU. But the divers are proud of the USU and want it up and running again after this disciplinary matter is finally resolved.
"They want assurances about manning levels, equipment, call-out status and other issues.
"But they believe binning the USU and getting civilians divers to their work would be a disaster."
)resulted in a brand new kit being delivered within a week. 
