POLICE are to patrol the Labour Party's spring conference on jet skis as part of the security operation.

Northumbria Police are to use two of the 1,200cc injection machines, which can reach a top speed of 60mph, to patrol the North-East's rivers and coastline.

Officially known as Personal Water Craft (PWC), one of their first tasks will be to monitor the River Tyne for the conference, which is being held at the new Sage Music Centre, in Gateshead, next week.

Sergeant Rod Urquhart, of the force marine unit, said: "At the moment, we put officers on larger boats to carry out security checks on the rivers, but we will now be able to do these on PWC.

"It gives us more flexibility and access to areas that the large craft are restricted from going to, due to their size and draught.

"They will also be deployed as a fast response vessel to any suspicious incidents during the conference."

The Genesis PWC can carry three people, reach speeds of up to 60mph and are extremely manoeuvrable, allowing access to areas where even small inflatable boats are restricted.

The marine unit, which is based at Viking Park, Jarrow, provides diving and marine support for Northumbria Police, the neighbouring forces of Durham and Cleveland, and other agencies.

It incorporates the Northumbria International Diving and Marine School, which was established in 1976.

It attracts students from a variety of agencies, plus police forces across the UK and abroad, including Oman and Hong Kong.