NCJ Number
58490
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1979) Pages: 26-30
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
LAW ENFORCEMENT JURISDICTIONAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVITIES IN THE NORTH SEA, PARTICULARLY OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS, ARE DISCUSSED, WITH ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GRAMPIAN POLICE OF SCOTLAND.
Abstract
IN ADDITION TO MATTERS ASSOCIATED WITH SHIPPING AND FISHING OFF THE COASTAL STATES OF EUROPE, THERE HAS ALSO BEEN MULTINATIONAL RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN NEAR AND DISTANT WATERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE NORTH SEA. IN THESE WATERS THERE ARE NO COUNTY OR REGIONAL BOUNDARIES AND NATIONAL BOUNDARIES ARE NOT ALWAYS SPECIFIC; THERE ARE MEDIAN LINES, 220-MILE LIMITS, BRITISH DESIGNATED WATERS, TERRITORIAL WATERS, ETC. ISSUES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN NORTH SEA WATERS INCLUDE WHOSE LAW SHOULD APPLY (COASTAL STATE, FLAG STATE, PORT STATE, OR OWNER STATE) WHO SHOULD PROVIDE THE RESPONSE (POLICE, NAVY, OR SOME NEW SPECIAL AGENCY ON THE ORDER OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD), WHAT SHOULD BE THE EXTENT OF THE JURISDICTION, AND WHAT SHOULD BE THE SCALE OF VARIOUS OPERATIONS. SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ANSWERED WITH RESPECT TO OIL AND GAS INSTALLATIONS THROUGH THE GENEVA CONVENTION OF 1958, WHICH PROVIDES THAT COASTAL STATES SHOULD EXERCISE SOVEREIGN RIGHTS OVER THE CONTINENTAL SHELF REGARDING NATURAL RESOURCES, WITH SAFETY ZONES ALLOWED UP TO 500 METERS AROUND INSTALLATIONS. THE GREAT MAJORITY OF OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS HAVE USED ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND AS THEIR PORT OF OPERATION, WHERE THE GRAMPIAN POLICE ARE THE CONSTABULARY. AT PRESENT, ABOUT 50 OIL-RELATED INSTALLATIONS ARE BEING OPERATED FROM THIS PORT, AND IN 1977, A TOTAL OF 15 FATAL ACCIDENTS IN THE OILFIELD AREAS WERE INVESTIGATED BY GRAMPIAN OFFICERS. TEAMS OF OFFICERS HAVE BEEN SPECIALLY BRIEFED FOR THIS WORK. PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH SHIPS OR BARGES USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE DRILLING OPERATIONS WITH RESPECT TO INCIDENTS REQUIRING LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVENTION ARE DISCUSSED. THERE IS NOT A SINGLE POLICE FORCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WITH THE RESOURCES TO MOUNT REGULAR PATROLS OF THE OIL/GAS INSTALLATIONS; NEITHER DO THEY HAVE THE CAPABILITY OR AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THE FISHERY REGULATIONS OUTSIDE TERRITORIAL WATERS. AT PRESENT, SUCH MATTERS ARE DEALT WITH BY THE ROYAL AIR FORCE AND ROYAL NAVY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEIR OTHER DUTIES. PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CIRCUMSTANCE ARE IDENTIFIED, AND ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES ARE EXAMINED. (RCB)