Police Boat Crashes Near Westminster Bridge, Five Officers Injured
Emergency services respond to River Thames incident, disrupting central London traffic.
Carla Rooney
A police boat carrying armed officers crashed near Westminster Bridge today, injuring five officers and prompting a major emergency response on the River Thames.
Responders from the RNLI treated casualties on a black rigid inflatable boat at Westminster Pier. Five Metropolitan Police officers sustained injuries in the central London crash, which occurred at approximately 15:40 BST.
The Metropolitan Police stated they do not believe any members of the public were involved or injured. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed, "At around 3.45pm on Friday July 24 a boat from the Met’s Marine Policing Unit struck Westminster Bridge."
The spokesperson added, "A number of officers entered the water but were recovered." Additional officers responded alongside the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade.
We understand five officers were injured and are receiving treatment.
They further stated, "We understand five officers were injured and are receiving treatment." An update on the extent of their injuries remains pending.
The Metropolitan Police spokesperson concluded, "At this stage, we don’t believe any members of the public were involved or injured." The circumstances of the incident will be thoroughly reviewed; the priority remains the wellbeing of the officers involved.
The Port of London Authority assists with the multi-agency response, providing river traffic management assistance. A Port of London Authority spokesperson confirmed, "We are supporting the response by providing river traffic management assistance where needed and are working closely with the Metropolitan Police, HM Coastguard and partner agencies to manage the situation."
An Uber Boat service was cancelled, and others faced delays due to the incident. An Uber Boat by Thames Clippers spokesperson stated, "An incident occurred in the vicinity of Westminster Bridge on Friday afternoon that did not involve Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, however some services may be subject to disruption or delay as a result."
A helicopter circled overhead, adding to the visible scale of the emergency response. A couple from the United States claimed the police boat travelled at high speed and seemed to pursue something further up the river.
Mateo Bilis-Lusevic, an eyewitness, stated, "Two boats were riding extremely fast through the water." Suddenly, he heard a boom.
Bilis-Lusevic continued, "I was looking towards the boat, and I heard a boom." Then three people went flying into the water, and one of the people was really hurt.
Jim Bagley claimed the police boat got stuck in the wake of another boat and slammed into the wall on the opposite side of the bridge. Around five police officers were in the water and looked hurt, but not severely, according to 19-year-old student Enno.
One eyewitness claimed the officers were in the water for about ten minutes before recovery. Officers taped off the bridge following the incident, causing disruptions to bus and coach routes.
The Metropolitan Police review the circumstances of the incident, a standard procedure for such operational events. Historically, the River Thames served as a critical artery for both transport and emergency operations, necessitating robust inter-agency frameworks for rapid deployment and incident management.
The presence of armed officers on the vessel confirms the specialized nature of police marine units, which frequently handle high-stakes security details demanding specific operational capabilities. Beyond the immediate incident, stakeholders, including commuters and local businesses, face direct impacts from the traffic disruption and road closures around Westminster Bridge, a key transport hub affecting thousands daily.
The economic pressure on central London during such incidents proves substantial, directly affecting daily commerce and public movement within a densely populated area, costing businesses and individuals. Meanwhile, the immediate landscape around Westminster Bridge, a prominent landmark, now appears dominated by emergency vehicles and personnel, confirming the incident's impact on a vital public space.
Future implications for river safety protocols and police marine operations will likely undergo review following this incident. Scrutiny will focus particularly on vessel deployment near critical infrastructure to ensure future security.