Shipping lines could help pay for policing at Stranraer, say politicians

Published on Saturday 23 May 2009 18:59

SENIOR police have warned of a "lack of funding" for officers trying to tackle the terror threat and illegal immigration at Scotland's busiest port.

MSPs and local officials last night said new ways had to be found to pay for policing Stranraer, the ferry harbour that has been dubbed "Britain's backdoor" for illegal immigrants.

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, the smallest force in Scotland, has been given special financial backing to help it hunt down terrorists, including renegade Irish groups, using Stranraer. But most of its work at the port, Britain's second biggest ferry terminal with nearly two million passengers a year, goes unfunded.

Local politicians want to see somebody stump up the cash – and have set their sights on the ferry operators. "There is no funding for core police activities at ports," said Ian Blake, the Tory councillor and former police inspector who chairs the Dumfries and Galloway Police, Fire and Rescue Committee. "There is money for counter-terrorism but not for all the routine work we have to do around the port. Airport operators have to contribute to the cost of policing their terminals but that is not the case in seaports. That is why we, as a small force, have that burden.

"We do the work we have to do. But, of course, it has an impact on policing elsewhere in Dumfries and Galloway."

Stranraer and its sister port further up Loch Ryan at Cairnryan have traditionally been heavily policed because of the threat of extremists from Northern Ireland. A Special Branch Unit has worked at the port since 1972. However, security experts are now more worried about the ports being used as a gateway for people-traffickers and smugglers.

Special Branch officers have been given training by immigration officials. But the UK Border Agency, the new body set up to guard frontiers, has no full-time presence at what are officially domestic seaports. A spokeswoman said UKBA officers attended when necessary, "based on intelligence".

Councillors have already approved the effective merger of the two ports at Cairnryan, from where rivals P&O and Stena Line will both sail to Ireland. Neither firm was available for comment yesterday on whether they should share the cost of policing the new port – or the two existing facilities.

MSP Richard Baker, Labour justice spokesman, said the Scottish Government should intervene. "The bottom line is that the security of our borders has to be properly funded. Ministers need to ensure whatever arrangements are required to give the police proper funding for their work, including negotiations with the ferry operators over a possible contribution. It is just not acceptable that core police activities are not properly funded like this."

Robert Brown, for the Liberal Democrats on justice, wanted an investigation. "We should be finding out what the funding issues are and looking at whether there is a role for ferry operations to pay without placing an undue burden on trade," he said. The exact nature of security at the ports – and the number of officers mobilised – is secret for security reasons.

The Dumfries and Galloway force, led by the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, Pat Shearer, last year warned it would have to cut police numbers because of financial problems due to high fuel costs. It has just over 500 officers, fewer than many divisions in other forces.

Senior force officers discussed a "ports review" at a March meeting of the chief constable's executive. The minutes noted "continuing challenges in the counter-terrorism world and a lack of funding."

Officials last night sought to downplay this "lack of funding". Detective Superintendent Kate Thomson said: "We are confident the outcome of this review process will provide clarity in relation to the future of the policing of the ports in Dumfries and Galloway."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We are investing record levels in policing throughout Scotland. The government also provides additional funding for aspects of ports policing. Dumfries and Galloway benefits directly from this, with more additional posts at Stranraer than at any other port in Scotland."