Career Quest

A Cox Swain (Skipper) is responsible for performing public order policing and crime prevention functions in the water (sea, river) with use of police water vessels such as boats. A Cox Swain also provides assistance to police divers by transporting them by boats to the points of diving and during searching of crime scenes . He/she also transports bodies from the drowning point to the river shore and they use police dogs for rescue and search purposes in the water.

What are the minimum requirements to become a Cox Swain?

An individual must have completed Basic Police Training and must have at least two years functional experience. He/she must be able to swim one of the internationally recognised strokes or be prepared to undergo swimming lessons.

Training:

The Logistical College of the South African Police Service in Benoni provides a seventeen months training. Training include Deckhand Module Course that covers marine fire fighting, marine first aid, efficiency life raft, maritime life procedures, construction of vessels that entails robe work, electronic navigation, outboard and inboard repairs, fibre glass repairs and 4 x 4 handling skills.

Where can you be stationed?

A Cox Swain can be stationed at any of the Police diving units country wide.

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