Ideaslab on the new maritime security strategy of the UK

Following up on our work with the UK government on refreshing the maritime security strategy, SafeSeas organized a one day workshop discussing the challenges linked to implementing the strategy. The workshop was organized in partnership with the University of Bristol, the UK Department of Transport and Joint Maritime Security Centre. The event was held under … Read more

Jersey fishing dispute: why the UK sent in the navy and how to resolve the spat

By Scott Edwards & Tim Edmunds. Article originally published in The Conversation On the morning of Thursday 6 May, French fishers threatened to blockade Jersey’s main port of St Helier, following a threat by French maritime minister Annick Girardin to cut off the island’s electricity supply. Both countries sent maritime patrol vessels to the area, … Read more

What the Nave Andromeda incident tells us about UK maritime security

Scott Edwards & Tim Edmunds On October 25th at around 10am, just off the coast of the Isle of Wight, seven stowaways turned violent and threatened the crew of the Nave Andromeda, sparking concerns of a hijacking and intervention by the coastguard and police. A three-mile exclusion zone was put into effect around the ship … Read more

Why are more small boats crossing the English Channel – and why are border forces struggling to stop them?

By Tim Edmunds and Scott Edwards The number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats has increased significantly – up to 4,343 this year compared with 857 in the same period last year. The number of lurid headlines calling for action has also increased significantly but the issue is not always well understood. … Read more

Brexit: how the UK is preparing to secure its seas outside the EU

Scott Edwards and Tim Edmunds recently wrote a short article for The Conversation, drawing upon insights from the SafeSeas Policy Brief ‘Delivering Maritime Security after Brexit: time for a joined-up approach‘. Four dinghies carrying 53 migrants who tried to cross the English Channel from France were intercepted by British and French authorities in early April. … Read more

Delivering Maritime Security after Brexit: time for a joined-up approach

SafeSeas Director Tim Edmunds and research associate Scott Edwards have produced a Policy Report based on the ideas discussed at the recent SafeSea’s event ‘Securing Britain’s Seas‘. The UK faces three critical challenges in this area: first, the need to respond effectively to a complex security environment, with important transnational dimensions; second the need to … Read more

A Moment of Opportunity? Britain and the Maritime Security Challenge

On 28 February 2020, SafeSeas hosted an IdeasLab in Bristol on UK maritime security after Brexit, with the kind support of PolicyBristol, Migration Mobilities Bristol, and the Bristol Global Insecurities Centre. Titled ‘Securing Britain’s Seas’, the goal of the day was to ask how maritime insecurities and blue crimes  impact on UK interests, explore how … Read more

‘Securing Britain’s Seas’ Ideaslab Programme

SafeSeas is pleased to announce the programme for the  forthcoming ‘Securing Britain’s Seas’ event. The IdeasLab will focus on the challenges of ensuring UK maritime security, drawing on contributions from academics, policy makers and other maritime security stakeholders. Panel one, chaired by Professor Timothy Edmunds (University of Bristol & SafeSeas, will cover ‘Threats, risks and … Read more

Announcement: Upcoming Ideaslab – Securing Britain’s Seas

Safeseas is organising an Ideaslab on ‘Securing Britain’s Seas’ on the 28th February in Bristol.

As a nation of islands, maritime security is of critical importance to the UK.
Maritime security comprises a range of important issues, including fisheries management, the migration of people, the fight against narcotics and people trafficking, marine environmental protection, the protection of critical infrastructure and counterterrorism at sea. Yet, while the UK remains a major naval power, its independent capacities for the management of maritime security in home waters are underdeveloped. UK maritime security also faces a series of new challenges in consequence of the Brexit process.

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Brexit’s challenge to maritime security

By Timothy Edmunds and Barry J. Ryan The politics of Britain’s security after Brexit are contentious and fast moving. But most discussion has focused on the security of land. The security of the sea has received less attention. As a nation of islands, maritime security is of critical importance to the United Kingdom. The UK marine … Read more