Pirates stopped but not eliminated

Thursday, June 04, 2009

The rules of engagement for the Royal Navy have been called into question after personnel successfully disarmed a group of suspected pirates, but then set them free.

While on patrol in the Gulf of Aden, the HMS Portland "detected, intercepted and boarded" two skiffs that were suspected of being operated by pirates. The Gulf of Aden is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and is therefore one of the primary operating area for pirates.

HMS Portland pursued the skiffs and used a Lynx helicopter to track the pirates and provide air cover as well. Royal Marines and Navy personnel boarded the skiffs manned by ten suspected Somali pirates and found rocket propelled grenades, machine guns and ammunition, and grappling hooks.

British forces confiscated the weapons and equipment and burned one of the skiffs, but under the rules of international engagement, the suspects could not be taken into custody. It is unclear whether these rules apply to everyone in the maritime task force patrolling the region or just Britain. The French Navy and Commandos have taken a more "hands on" approach over the last year which has led to the elimination of a number of suspected pirates.

It was alleged last year that the Foreign Office requested that the Royal Navy not arrest pirates because they could try to claim asylum.

A spokesperson for the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) said of the latest incident that while the items found would not be associated with an "innocent fishing vessel", the fact that they did not actually catch the suspected pirates in the act of piracy nor did the suspects fire upon British Forces meant they had to be set free.

"Due to insufficient evidence to directly link the group to a specific attack, the suspected pirates were disarmed and released. Having prevented this group of pirates from reaching their merchant traffic prey Portland destroyed one of the skiffs and confiscated all their weapons," the CMF said in a statement.

Commodore Tim Lowe, CMF Deputy Commander, hailed the incident, saying: "This is an excellent example of international co-ordination.

"This international collaboration cannot be understated and as more countries join the fight, we will continue to work together to help deter, disrupt and thwart criminal acts of piracy in the maritime environment."

Since August 2008, the CMF has intercepted 27 pirate vessels, seized 190 small arms and 39 rocket-propelled grenades.