Counter Terrorism Policing this week tested their response to a major terrorism incident during a large-scale, multi-agency exercise on a Brittany Ferries cross-channel vessel. Hosted at the Port of Poole in Dorset, the exercise brought together several hundred people, including local and national partners, to test specialist counter terrorism and emergency response capabilities across a complex maritime and port environment.

The exercise was coordinated by Counter Terrorism Policing South West, alongside Counter Terrorism Policing South East. Police forces operated alongside ambulance and fire and rescue services to assess interoperability, command and control, and information sharing during fast-moving incidents both offshore and within critical port infrastructure.

Counter Terrorism Policing South West’s regional assistant chief constable Andy Hill, commented: “Exercises like this take place regularly across all emergency services and are a crucial way of testing the response that would be required in the event of a major incident such as a terrorist attack.

“Not only do exercises help us all understand each other’s roles, they also provide an opportunity to identify learning, which can then be adopted to strengthen our response and ensure we provide the best possible protection to our communities.

“Counter Terrorism Policing constantly monitors and reviews the plans and measures in place so that we and our partners are ready to respond in the most effective way, should the worst happen.”

Dorset Police’s assistant chief constable Steve Lyne added: “We were delighted to host the exercise here in Dorset and work with our partners across the region and beyond.

“This type of training is an integral part of policing and ensures we deliver an immediate and robust response to a major incident with our partners. Simply put, this is about protecting the public with a strong and dynamic response that helps us to protect lives.”

This week’s event formed part of a routine national programme of preparedness and exercising and was not linked to any specific threat or intelligence.

The threat level from terrorism in the UK remains at substantial.

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