HISTORY

The Coast Preventive Force's role and functions were laid to HM Customs & Excise in 1922, and were set out by the Interdepartmental Committee on the Coastguard. The Force was set up in 1923.

During World War II the Coast Preventive Force numbered approximately 240 Coast Preventive Men employed on normal patrol duties around the coast of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (67), watch-keeping or guarding duties (27), serving with HM Forces (38) and as vacancies (including those transferred to the launch service etc) (108). With the advent of war this work largely became neither necessary nor possible and the Force was reduced by various expedients to a fraction of its former strength.

COAST PREVENTIVE MEN - EMPLOYMENT & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

In 1932, the regulations governing men employed as a Coast Preventive Man included:

• Sex - Men only, who had been awarded a life pension for service in -

• The Royal Navy or the Royal Marines as members of the Seamen and Signal classes, or

• The Royal Air Force as members of the Marine Craft Personnel.

• Preference was given to applicants who had been fairly recently discharged.

• Age Limits - Candidates had to be under 50 years of age at the time of appointment and supply proof of age.

• Previous Employment - Candidates were required to furnish information as to previous employment (supported by certificates of good character)

• Health - Candidates were required to furnish and satisfactory evidence of good health, good eyesight and hearing

• Education - Candidates were required to have the capacity to write intelligently and legibly and to make simple arithmetical calculations

The rates of  Pay in 1932 started at £3 rising by annual increments to £6/10/00 a week. Employment as a Coast Preventive Man did not carry with it any claim to a pension but on retirement at the age limit, or on grounds of ill-health a Coast Preventive Man could be awarded a gratuity of an amount not exceeding one week's pay for each year of service, provided he had completed 15 years satisfactory service, excluding any period for which no pay had been allowed other than certain periods of approved unpaid sick leave.

The hours of employment were uncertain and extended over Sundays and Public holidays and included attendance as required by night as well as by day. No overtime, Sunday pay or other extra pay was allowed. Employment was based on an attendance of 48 hours in a 7 day week on the average throughout the year. Leave of Absence, subject to the requirements of the Public Service, with full pay was allowed at the rate of 16 days a year. For purposes of pay during sick leave Coast Preventive Men were subject during their first 12 months of service to the ordinary operation of the National Health Insurance Acts, no departmental sick pay being allowed. Thereafter sick pay was allowed according to Treasury regulations then in force.

Coast Preventive Men were always required to appear on duty neatly dressed and wearing the prescribed uniform, which was supplied to them by the Department. Macintoshes and leggings were also supplied, but boots were not. No official residence was provided, and Coast Preventive Men had to find their own house or accommodation.

COAST PREVENTIVE MEN - THE WORK

Coast Preventive Men carried a Commission and normally worked under the direction of a Chief Preventive Officer, or in some cases a Preventive Officer. A Coast Preventive Man was primarily employed to patrol a set section of the coastline. He was required to present a schedule of the patrols he intended to perform, including the time he expected to be at any particular point, about a week in advance to his supervising officer who would then meet him during a patrol to perform occasional management checks.

The duties of Coast Preventive Man employed at the small ports on watch keeping duties was laid down in the instructions to Coast Preventive Men. The fact that the station was a local harbour or a creek instead of a stretch of coastline and that his linked officer was on the spot instead of some miles away, only simplified his position and did not materially change his duties.

In 1944, The Board decided that in future, whenever practicable, CPMs were to be employed at some ports on tidal-watching duties, as well as being responsible for certain Waterguard duties such as rummaging , patrolling and recording arrivals and sailings.

POST WORLD WAR II

With the cessation of hostilities it became necessary to restore the coast patrols to their former levels. However, the Commissioners of Customs & Excise took the view 'that in some cases the pre-war patrols had been too long and, apart from the strain imposed upon these elderly men, particular points in some areas could not be visited frequently enough to achieve the desired degree of Revenue security'.

It was also approved and agreed in Central Whitley that some watch-keeping and guarding duties at some ports, previously performed by Assistant Preventive Officers, could more economically be performed by CPMs. In order to be able to implement the new watch-keeping arrangements the number of CPMs needed to be increased by about 35 for watch-keeping duties and by a further 70 when the trade increased to 1939 levels. It was thought that when it became necessary to restore the coast patrols to a pre-war level, an additional 146 men would be required, and with the shortening of the patrol length, a further 20/30 CPMs would be required. A total strength of 340.

In 1944/1945 A recruitment exercise for 140 additional CPMs was recommended.

EQUIPMENT

TRANSPORT

A Coast Preventive Man was required to use a private pedal cycle in the performance of his duties, but he was not required to use a motor vehicle and, except in special circumstances, the use of the latter was prohibited until 1947. Later, motor vehicles were provided.

COAST PREVENTIVE STATIONS