UK Border Force visit

Friday 25th October 2019

North Sunderland Harbour was visited by the UK Border Force Patrol vessel 'NIMROD'.

The CPV has a 280 mile range at 20 knots and can travel at speeds of up to 32 knots. The deployment of CPVs has already led to successful operations to track and intercept those involved in criminal activity.

For example, in May, a Border Force CPV intercepted a suspicious vessel approaching Hayling Island in Cornwall. The detection led to the arrest of six individuals on suspicion of attempting to enter the UK illegally. A further two individuals were arrested and charged with attempting to facilitate illegal entry into the UK. The vessels also participate in operations tackling irregular migration and drugs.

As well as carrying out regular patrols of UK waters, CPVs will act on intelligence provided by law enforcement and international partners. Additionally they will be engaged with Project Kraken which encourages the public, harbour masters and others working around the coastline of Britain to report suspicious activity on the coastline and at smaller ports.

They are just one part of the Border Force approach to security which uses a combination of state of the art detection technology, international partnership work and intelligence-based operational activity to prevent illegal activity at the border.