[4] The Marine Navigation Act 2013 provides a limited extension to this jurisdiction if a chief constable of a police area consents.

[6] The force employs under 50 police officers, of whom five comprise the criminal investigation department.

As with Home Office police forces, officers are required to sit and pass the same promotion examinations (Objective Structured Performance Related Examination (OSPRE)) until recently; replaced by Sergeants' or Inspectors' NPPF Step 2 Exam, National Investigators' (NIE) Exam or IPLDP Police Legal Exam) to be considered for promotion to sergeant and inspector.

In its present form, the force has existed since 19 June 1975, when it was created by the Mersey Docks and Harbour (Police) Order 1975.

[16] The force has jurisdiction over the whole of the Port of Liverpool as defined by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Act 1971 and its amendments.