Small Ports Unit

The Small Ports Unit forms part of the main Ports Unit based at Stranraer and is staffed by two officers who carry out patrols in a marked 4x4 vehicle, giving them access to some of the more remote parts of the coastline.

The unit’s beat covers some 350 miles of coastline around Dumfries and Galloway, and includes ports such as Portpatrick, and Kirkcudbright, as well as numerous small inlets, bays and slipways which are situated across the region.

The unit also has responsibility for the monitoring of all small aircraft flights into and out of Dumfries and Galloway from airfields such as Castle Kennedy and Baldoon in the west of the region and Eskdalemuir to the east.

Staff regularly liaise with harbour masters, coastguard staff, lifeboat crews and the communities who live in and around the smaller bays and inlets during patrols in an effort to gain up to date information and intelligence on any suspicious activity at any of our small ports.

The unit’s purpose is to assist in protecting the national security of the United Kingdom. Its primary role is to support the National Ports Policing Scheme and does this by working with other agencies to provide a professional service in countering threats to Her Majesty's Government's interests in the UK. The priority is to counter the threat to national security from terrorism, espionage, sabotage and serious organised (major) crime.

Operators, pilots and boat owners are asked to be vigilant with regards to potential breaches of national security, and matters relating to terrorism and crime.

The Small Ports Unit is interested in collecting intelligence and information concerning all aspects of suspected terrorist crime involving the aviation and maritime world.

Recognising suspicious activity

At small sea ports

• Unusual boat movements late at night, early in the morning
• People being landed at unusual locations
• People not knowing about boat handling
• People with inadequate dress for sailing
• Boats moving around at night time with no navigational lighting
• Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats (RIBS) being loaded/unloaded at unusual times
• RIBS being loaded/unloaded at unusual places
• Packages being transferred out at sea, from larger boats
• Packages being transferred to waiting cars
• Strangers acting suspiciously within the marina
• Strangers wanting to hire boats
• Boats with extra fuel tanks
• Boats with above average crew for size of boat

At small airfields

• Evidence of unauthorised activity at your airstrip i.e. fresh tyre marks
• Packages being transferred from an aircraft to a vehicle in unusual locations such as a remote part of an airfield
• Activity or sightings of aircraft at night or unused airstrips
• Strangers trying to hire your aircraft - or those belonging to other club members i.e. asking unusual questions
• Strangers using, or seeking permission to use, your airstrip
• Evidence of adaptation of aircraft for concealment purposes

Reporting suspicious activity

If you notice anything suspicious or unusual

• Do not involve yourself
• Do not touch any suspicious packages
• Do make a note of any registration numbers, markings or descriptions
• Do notify the Ports Unit

If you have any information or concerns about your homeport, or visiting port, please do not hesitate to contact the Small Ports Unit.

Your information will be treated in the strictest confidence.