In 1956 the then Chief Constable of the County Force, J.E.S. Browne decided to form an Underwater Search Unit and called for volunteers.  Some thirty-odd men presented themselves at the swimming pool at Epperstone Manor for trials conducted by the Nottingham branch of the British Sub-aqua Club of which Bob Collington (City Traffic) was a member.  It was a very cold November day and half the volunteers changed their minds and went home.  The rest braved the cold water and eventually six of them were chosen to form the first Unit.  Bill Shooter, Geoff Greaves, Sid Johnson, Gordon Hallam, George Colclough and Bert Jarvis.  They were each issued with a snorkel tube, mask and flippers and commenced training with the British Sub-aqua club at the old Northern Baths at Bulwell.  In February and March 1957 the team completed a shallow water diving course at the Siebe-Gorman works at Tolworth in Surrey.  In April 1957 after acquiring the necessary equipment they were ready for action.  Superintendent S.G.Shipston (Traffic Supt.) was put in charge at first but he really didn't want the job so Inspector Claud Brown from Hucknall took over.  He was a great man and remained in charge until he retired in the late 1960s.

An underwater search at Beeston	Underwater Search Training in 1973	Underwater Search Unit kit on display

   In the late 1950s the unit were joined by Pete Mee, Jim West, Colin Rawlinson, Ian Booth and John Ward and trained once a fortnight mostly in the Trent and Langold Lake, taking on non-urgent jobs during training.  Another venue was Stoney Cove in Leicestershire long before it became the centre it is today. 

Being the only Underwater Unit in the East of England the unit was frequently called upon by other Forces and travelled far and wide.  They were instrumental in setting up a number of neighbouring Forces Units. When Claud Brown retired Bill Shooter, by now a Sergeant, took over.  On amalgamation in with the City Police in 1968 they were joined by Bob Collington, Alan Newton and Nev Hoskins from the old City Force.  Most of the original Unit stayed on for many years until advancing age forced retirement from the Unit