A new charter was issued to Southampton Harbour Board in 1954 along with a new coat of arms, which were adopted by the police force for their helmet plate.
One of the many duties of the SHBP was to activate the navigational beacons used by ships pilots for berthing at the Ocean Terminal.
PC Alfred Hanks, a member of the force, was commended for bravery after rescuing a man who fell into the docks in March 1975:[1] A ship-keeper, Fred Adlington, heard cries for help coming from the water just before 9.30pm.
The man was nearly unconscious when Alf finally got him into the boat and began the scull back.Thirty-five-year-old Christopher Lewis, living at the Salvation Army Hostel in Oxford Street, was taken to Southampton General Hospital and later discharged.
PC Hanks was commended by Eric Haslem, chief constable of the British Transport Police and received a presentation pen set for his actions.