PD Ports has registered Teesport as part of PortSafe, a new initiative that forms a collaborative approach between law enforcement, first responders, partner agencies and industry to enhance security awareness within the UK ports industry.
 
PortSafe officially launched in March, and encourages registered facilities to raise security awareness through a combination of industry-focused briefings and training sessions, while also providing a dedicated hotline to allow anonymous reporting for matters of concern.
 
PD Ports already operates a dedicated Harbour Police force whose jurisdiction covers the entirety of the Teesport complex. 

Operating under the Tees and Hartlepool Authority Act 1966, the Harbour Police use traditional policing methods and local knowledge to effectively respond to, investigate and control potential incidents across the maritime complex.

In addition to ongoing regular patrols and the recently introduced Community Policing plan, the PortSafe initiative is positioned to further safeguard the businesses that rely on the River Tees to trade.

PD Ports’ Head of Police, Security and Resilience, Neal Armstrong, said: “Teesport, as the fifth largest port in the UK, is a key piece of national infrastructure and the UK’s northern gateway for international trade. With this position comes a responsibility to ensure leading security practices. 

“Whilst we already have exceptional security provisions in place across Teesport, we hope that by becoming a PortSafe facility we can further expand on people’s understanding of potential security threats and in turn enhance resilience across the port complex.”