The Historical Precedent

A short history of HM Coastguard can be found here.

HM Coastguard was set up in the early 1800s as the Preventive Water Guard to watch the coast for smugglers. At that time life-saving a secondary concern. In 1856, the Admiralty took control and during this time the Coastguard was treated as a naval reserve.

A committee was set up in 1922 with the following terms of reference: "To enquire and report what establishment is necessary for carrying out the civil duties and revenue protection, lifesaving, coast watching, etc., what arrangements should be made for a division of responsibility and cost between the departments concerned and what economies consistent with the maintenance of the necessary national services can be effected.