Civilian patrol agencies can call naval boarding teams

Not every fisheries or border agency needs a permanently armed tactical team on every patrol ship. Scotland's fisheries vessels can call on the Royal Navy when resistance exceeds ordinary enforcement. That arrangement avoids the legal, administrative, and training burden of building a rarely used firearms capability inside the civilian service. Royal Marines and naval boarding teams already maintain the specialist skills and gain realistic practice from the task. Interagency support can therefore preserve a low-threat patrol design without leaving officers unsupported.