- 6/24/2025
Dover 247 Britains Busiest Port S01E03
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CreativityTranscript
00:00Nestled beneath the famous White Cliffs is the port of Dover.
00:06Morning. Bonjour. Just need your passports, please.
00:11Ten million passengers and a third of the UK's entire trade with Europe
00:16pass through this international gateway every year.
00:21This is the captain speaking. Very shortly, we shall believe in the birth.
00:26Dover works around the clock. That keeps breaking down.
00:30Mayhem. To keep goods on the supermarket shelves and passengers moving.
00:35Ready for a holiday. Just where the blue flags are.
00:38Absolutely loved it. We booked again next year.
00:41Making split-second decisions that impact the entire country.
00:45Get to the eastern entrance at 6.35, please.
00:50From battling storms. Waterproof at the ready.
00:53To keeping everyone safe. Will you calm down, sir?
00:57Everyone is in the same vibe.
00:59It's right there. Show me your hands. Do it now.
01:01You have a gun. We go behind the scenes for the very first time.
01:05I've never had this. Not when everything's gone down.
01:07Time for a tea. No, we ain't got time for tea.
01:11As the team faces its toughest summer yet.
01:13This morning is not going well. What's she doing there?
01:16She's going to be late. It's getting worse.
01:18Why are you carrying pigeons?
01:20There's not an inch and a knife. Keeping Britain's busiest port
01:25open for business. Everybody's ready?
01:27Let's go.
01:34Just this lane, if possible, matey.
01:36Yeah, in Caramannia. Yeah, absolutely. Just right there. Thank you very much.
01:40It's the start of the school holidays and one of the busiest days of the year for the port of Dover.
01:46Thank you. Thank you. Cheers, matey.
01:51Oh, lovely stuff.
01:54Today, the port is expecting three times their normal amount of ferry traffic
01:59as families head off on their summer break.
02:02It's not normally this busy at four o'clock. I mean, we're very much normally straight at the front,
02:08so it's a prerequisite as to what's coming later, I suppose.
02:14Will and his colleagues are affectionately known as passenger champions.
02:21Today, they must get more than 30,000 passengers through passport control and security checks
02:26and on to 48 scheduled ferries heading to either Calais or Dunkirk.
02:34All of this weekend, they very much expect it to be rammed.
02:37So I think they've brought out the A-team. Why I've been involved, I'm not sure.
02:42When the barrier comes up, go for it, though. Cheers.
02:47The passenger champions can't keep the traffic moving without expert guidance from above.
02:59Six storeys up at the top of this tower is terminal control.
03:03From here, the team has a bird's eye view of every vehicle entering and leaving the port.
03:09As you can see behind me, the traffic is now building, so the French police are processing really
03:15well. They've opened a fourth booth for us and we've still got two freight lanes moving.
03:19Terminal control has a network of cameras across the port and along the motorway to monitor and
03:26control the flow of traffic into Dover. It's a bit like a giant conveyor belt where we're moving traffic
03:32throughout the port until when it eventually gets on the ferries over there.
03:38Every problem, large or small, comes through here.
03:41We observed it on CCTV because we wondered why the traffic wasn't moving.
03:46And duty operations officer Michelle has just spotted an accident.
03:53Currently, we've got an RTC on Jubilee Way involving a car and a lorry.
03:59Can you close the A2, please? We've got an RTC at the bottom there, so we'll send everything to the A20.
04:07There are just two roads in and out of the ferry terminal, and with one now blocked, traffic can
04:14quickly grind to a halt. We monitor these CCTV cameras all the time so we can pick up on it pretty
04:20quickly. This road is particularly nasty because you've got a lot of foreign drivers coming out
04:27the port, maybe on the wrong side of the road. We've had various head-on collisions on this road.
04:32We've put out of order signs on and directed them up to passenger terminal building for now,
04:35but if you can keep it shut off, that'd be great. A lot of multitasking, phones ringing, radios going.
04:41There is a lot going on, there's a lot to think about, yes, but three kids and a dog at home, actually.
04:48This is quite a nice rest.
04:52Nora, are you okay?
04:55Yeah. Do you want to get the bonus open and we'll call it down for a minute?
04:59Down on the ground, Will is dealing with a car problem of his own.
05:06It's not uncommon for us to have vehicle fires in these lanes, so it's very much a case of being
05:12buried on it with stuff like this. All it takes is one car to break down and this place can halt up for miles.
05:19Luckily, with a bit of time to cool down, the car restarts and can rejoin the queue.
05:24But a much bigger situation is now unfolding in terminal control.
05:36PHONE RINGS
05:39They're not. Okay, thank you. So we haven't got PAP in Westgate either.
05:43We've lost all our CCTV in the control room. Taps, the buffer zone's gone off. We're trying to restart it.
05:57It says recovery. Looks like the windows hasn't loaded correctly. It just went dead.
06:02On the other phone, the marina's crashed as well.
06:04The marina's crashed as well. It sounds like the whole internet's right now.
06:08And looking at it, it looks like the fire alarm system has gone down.
06:16So currently at the moment, our systems have all gone down, which means we can't operate the buffer zone.
06:21The marina systems have also crashed. That was a phone call from them as well.
06:26On the busiest day of the year, all the computers have crashed.
06:30Yeah, is it possible you can remove or take those cars out in Bravo? No, Charlie and Delta, please.
06:40Unfortunately, our system's gone down up here. We can't open the barriers. We need to do it manually.
06:45Yeah, that's no worries. So the system's gone down on the barriers, so it's a case of bringing them out manually,
06:51which is probably the first time we've ever seen that happen.
06:54Yeah, that's good.
06:57With no screens or CCTV, Michelle and the team can't control the flow of traffic.
07:03And without their tech, they run the risk of everything coming to a standstill.
07:10My colleague is on the phone to call out IT to try and see if we can get systems back up.
07:15I'm just going to call port control to make sure they're OK as well.
07:18No one knows what has caused the crash in Dover, but this software failure is actually happening across the world.
07:29Computer says no and causes global chaos, the biggest IT disruption ever.
07:34Airport information panels turned to blue screens of death in the US, red in France.
07:39Microsoft says it's investigating the tech meltdown, which is linked to an update issue with third-party cyber security software.
07:48It's looking like it's happening everywhere, absolutely everywhere.
07:51There's a major IT outage by the looks of it.
07:55It could take hours for IT to fix the software glitch,
07:59and with air passengers now also heading to Dover to get away on their holidays,
08:03the port traffic is almost at capacity.
08:06I feel as the day progresses, you get less smiling, happy faces.
08:10How long have you been waiting?
08:12Three quarters of an hour? I'm sorry.
08:14We were meant to catch a plane this morning, an impromptu trip.
08:17It was meant to be good fun for, like, my friend here.
08:20He didn't know it was going to happen, so it was meant to be a surprise,
08:24but in reality, we got a surprise, and we've just had a problem after problem.
08:28We're trying to make the journey still happen, enjoy ourselves.
08:31So we're now at Dover, hoping to get onto a ferry.
08:40Port control have gone down as well.
08:42Port control have gone down as well.
08:44Yeah, don't try.
08:45OK, in the meantime, while you're doing that, I will...
08:48Phone lines have gone down.
08:50That's right.
08:51Phone lines have gone down.
08:52Yeah.
08:53With no phones or computers, the team in terminal control are working blind.
08:58You can't see what else is going on.
09:00Like, we wouldn't have seen that road traffic collision this morning if all our cameras were down.
09:06I've never had this, ever.
09:09Not when everything's gone down and you can't use anything.
09:11Yeah, that's what you said he was going to do.
09:13CCTV, no.
09:18Passengers are now at risk of missing their ferries,
09:21so Michelle has gone down to the lanes to help.
09:24So, once we get clear, we'll be ready to release them.
09:28Understood. The next couple and then we'll start going.
09:30Yeah, you can still use lane one, just bring them all forward.
09:33OK.
09:34We're getting really busy at the back.
09:36Lovely stuff.
09:38It's imperative. We've got to get these tourists through and through check-in and through to the
09:43other side, so they're waiting for their ferry to go on their holidays. We don't want to...
09:47We don't want to ruin their holidays at the start.
09:49It's the first day of the school holidays and thousands of vehicles have arrived in Dover.
10:03Which ferry company are you guys with?
10:04DFDS. No worries, if you just want to come along here.
10:07Michelle? Happy?
10:09Cool.
10:11But on the busiest day of the year, their entire computer system crashed two hours ago
10:16and the port is at risk of coming to a standstill.
10:20Yeah, we've got a major problem, mate. We've got no service on the phone,
10:24the fire alarm panel went off, all our CCTVs got off.
10:28We're completely blind around the port, so we're heavily reliant on our people on the ground
10:33to just keep informing us, communicating with us.
10:38To keep the thousands of cars and coaches moving,
10:41terminal control has actioned a special operation to prioritise the tourists
10:46and stop the lorries from blocking the roads.
10:48We've got a processing place called TAP,
10:52so that means that we're holding all the freight on the 820,
10:55allowing all the tourist traffic to come through.
11:00Mish has pressed go on their traffic access protocol, known to the team as TAP.
11:06TAP is actioned, the police queue the lorries on the motorway
11:14and then drip-feed them into the port, where today, Officer Steve is on duty.
11:19We turn the TAP on and off, depending on how quickly we can get vehicles through the port.
11:37That varies. Obviously, it's a bigger challenge today, but our priority is to fill the port,
11:42so it doesn't affect the local residents of Dover, which is really annoying for them,
11:48because it does get snarled up with just pure volume of traffic.
11:51We do the best we can, although sometimes it goes wrong.
11:54Why are you in HGV?
11:56No, but why are you in this lane? This is HGV's owner.
11:59But people that travel for the first time through the ports think they want to make up the rules
12:04and they know better, and when we get cars in the wrong lane, in the freight lane,
12:10then they get trapped in there. And then that causes a knock-on
12:16and then just jams the town up, if people don't do as they're told.
12:20With Steve's indomitable style, the lorries are under control.
12:26Go on, brother.
12:29So, get over there.
12:34Whoa! What does that mean?
12:35And several hours after the computers crashed,
12:41there might just be a glimmer of hope for terminal control.
12:45Oh, this is a good sign. This is a very good sign.
12:52Fingers crossed we'll be coming back. We're starting to see our CCTV come back now.
12:56Oh, 19. OK, so we've got a queue there.
13:01Yes, looking very good at the moment. Our IT systems are back and running,
13:07so we can see the whole of the port with our CCTV. Our phones are working.
13:13Our barriers are working, which is great.
13:15Against all the odds, the team have miraculously managed
13:19to get the majority of passengers onto their ferries and away on time.
13:24I personally, I like it when it's busy. It keeps you going.
13:29Today's definitely kept you going.
13:31I think the Port Dover's done really well.
13:33I think there's still loads to come, to be honest with you,
13:36whether that be freight or whether that be tourists.
13:40The computer outage is over, but the summer getaway has only just begun.
13:46Hiya, you're out.
13:53Of course, vehicles aren't the only traffic Dover has to deal with during a busy summer.
14:05VTS, the Doughty, we're top-line, and the outer marina would like to come out, please.
14:18Doughty, VTS. Morning, David. Yeah, that's fine. You're clear out of the outer marina.
14:25On the edge of the harbour, with a perfect view out into the English Channel,
14:28sits VTS, or Vessel Traffic Services.
14:32Best seat in the house. You've got the white cliffs in the background there.
14:37Absolutely beautiful.
14:38Port control, this is strike. A little sports boat.
14:41VTS watches over all the sea traffic in the harbour, from huge cargo ships,
14:47down to small yachts, and even swimmers, 24-7, 365 days a year.
14:53We're like the air traffic controllers of a port.
14:58And you control when things come in, when they go out, and not hit each other.
15:03Côte de Flannes, if you maintain your ETA 06...
15:06Every movement on the water comes through us, and up to a mile outside the sea,
15:11while outside the pier heads. We ensure that everybody on the water is safe.
15:18The Dover Strait is the narrowest part of the English Channel,
15:21and the busiest shipping lane in the world. Strong tides and high winds make navigating
15:27this stretch of water a test for even the most experienced of sailors.
15:31Yeah, that's correct, ma'am. If you maintain your ETA 0635,
15:35then I will get you in number one. Over.
15:37The ferry captains are old hands at navigating these waters.
15:42But all other ships over 50 metres in length need to be brought in and out of Dover
15:48by an expert harbour pilot.
15:50So the pilot's job is basically to advise the captain how best to manoeuvre the ship
15:57in order to safely get it into the port. The pilot will then have the unenviable job
16:03of climbing up the pilot ladder. It can be a bit lumpy out there, and it can be a bit dangerous.
16:09Today's pilot, Tom, has just helped steer this giant cargo vessel out of the port safely.
16:17Any minute they'll be down. They'll be down pretty quick.
16:21Now he has to get off the ship and back to shore, which is one of the most dangerous parts of the job.
16:27Now, to get the pilots off, we rig a ladder, and the pilot boat comes in and climb down the ladder.
16:37Three, two, one. Well done.
16:41In this modern day, we still have to use rope ladders to get down the side of the ship.
16:45It's the best way to get off, and it still is.
16:48It's the best way to get off, and it's the best way to get off, and it's the best way to get off.
16:58Tom's been a pilot for seven years. The sea is in his blood.
17:03Yeah, my father was at sea, so I got the bug early.
17:06You get a bit addicted to the adrenaline sometimes, because when it's windy and you're piloting ships,
17:14there's a lot to think about.
17:15Well done.
17:17Today, Tom and the team in VTS are preparing to dock the cruise liner, the Aida Bella.
17:24It's stopping in Dover as part of a one-week trip around the British Isles.
17:29Hey.
17:31At nearly 70,000 tonnes and housing more than 2,000 guests,
17:36it's one of the biggest ships the port will welcome this summer.
17:42Let's try and get the ship in the hole, ship in the hole.
17:45Aida Bella.
17:49Tom will use his expert knowledge of Dover to assist the captain with bringing in the ship safely.
17:57Obviously, they do lots of ports, but we're very trained on our own port.
18:02You've seen all the different wind directions, all the different tides, over and over and over again.
18:06There's all different challenges. The one brought with the most danger is that eastern entrance.
18:10The eastern entrance is a tight squeeze for a ship of this size.
18:15You're on the water, but the water's moving. There's tides out there, strong cross currents.
18:19You're on the water, strong cross currents.
18:28In vessel traffic services, they're managing this important visitor alongside three ferries full of passengers.
18:35We've got to juggle this cruise ship that isn't as fast as these two ferries.
18:48So it's, who do we bring in first? Do we bring in the ferries on their ETA,
18:53or do we prioritise the cruise ship and all the passengers?
18:56Delft Seaways, 15 for departure. Thank you.
19:00Welcome to the city. Aida Bella. Good morning. Over.
19:02Good morning. I'll provide you now. We have eight knots, please.
19:07Now five miles out from the port, Tom's preparing to board the cruise ship,
19:15as both vessels continue to move at speed.
19:23Right quick.
19:24Coffee sounds great. Just black.
19:37Black. No sugar? No sugar.
19:44For Tom, the clock is ticking. The smooth running of the port and keeping the ferries sailing to schedule
19:50depends on him bringing in this ship on time.
19:52Hi, Captain. Morning, Captain. How are you doing?
19:54Good morning. Morning, sir. Good morning.
19:58Once on the bridge, Tom is now legally in charge of the Aida Bella.
20:02OK, Captain. Today we have a ebb tide. That'll be right to left, looking out the window.
20:09Wind is less than 10 knots. Yeah, co-pilot, that's all copied. All understood.
20:14The wind at the moment, currently westerly, five knots. The tide is south going,
20:20and we'll also have a couple of ferries to follow you in as well.
20:24Information, I've got the tug, Dauntless, waiting on the breakwater for you. Over.
20:31Dauntless, sir. Pilot 169 there, Dan.
20:34Pilot Dauntless, 69.
20:36As the ship gets closer to the port, it becomes a three-way military operation to dock her safely.
20:44Joining VTS and Tom, the pilot, are two tugboats that will help push the cruise liner into the berth.
20:50To port two, four, zero.
21:02After Tom navigates the ship through the tricky eastern entrance,
21:06and safely out of the route of the ferries, the tugs help turn her into position for landing.
21:11The final manoeuvre of this 70,000-tonne ship requires pinpoint accuracy.
21:2450, five, zero.
21:26Five, zero.
21:29Three metres.
21:30Three.
21:31Two metres.
21:33Two.
21:34One metre.
21:35One.
21:37One.
21:39Position there, pilot in position.
21:41Position there.
21:43Happy with that?
21:45Yes, pilot in position.
21:49Thanks, Cap.
21:49It's been a pleasure. See you on departure.
21:51See you on departure.
21:54Smooth.
21:55It's a nice day.
21:57A little bit tricky to slow down today, the current running through the entrance.
22:01But it's made easier when the wind's low, you can slow down under control.
22:04Better as per plan.
22:07It's a nice day.
22:16All right.
22:18Happy?
22:18Happy?
22:19On dry land, the police are also working flat out.
22:22Are you empty?
22:23You're empty?
22:24Yeah.
22:25Nothing in the back at all?
22:26No.
22:26No.
22:27No.
22:28Since 1932, the port has funded its own private police force,
22:32with exactly the same powers as any other police in the country.
22:37Anything catch your eyes?
22:38Nothing yet.
22:39No.
22:40They monitor thousands of lorries, coaches and cars every day.
22:48Today, officers Ian and Joe are carrying out routine checks
22:52on lorries and their cargo, heading to mainland Europe.
22:59With more than 130,000 stolen vehicles every year,
23:03this illegal trade is worth millions to organised crime groups.
23:08Hello. How are you?
23:11Straight away, one lorries cargo looks suspicious.
23:15So you've got two B and WX-5s in the back of this one.
23:19We'll just check the identity of the one in front and then all should be good.
23:23This one's good.
23:28Right, I'll let that guy do his truck up.
23:30Yeah, this is a call from the war force in the inwest car hall.
23:34They've got a French registered vehicle that he believes is stolen.
23:39We'll go and have a look then.
23:40That's window, no document.
23:43Are you able to attend?
23:45So far, Ian and Joe haven't found a stolen vehicle,
23:49but a car that has just driven off the ferry from France
23:52has been pulled over.
23:54Yep.
23:54Might certainly show us making our way there.
23:58Lovely.
23:59Any vehicle of interest is moved to a secure shed
24:03where the car and the driver can be investigated further.
24:07This one.
24:11Yeah.
24:13That's the one.
24:14Toyota.
24:15Check the key.
24:17Make sure it's in a genuine key.
24:18The situation is the registration on the vehicle isn't the same as the registration on the paperwork
24:30and I'm just going to do further checks.
24:34I'll check the full VIN, vehicle identification number, and we'll go from there.
24:38All vehicles have a unique VIN or vehicle identification number,
24:42which is much harder to change than the number plate and Ian knows just where to look.
24:47This is quite a common occurrence where you get cars coming into the country.
24:51It's not got the genuine owner with it and you have to do further inquiries.
24:58While Ian focuses on the car, Joe turns his attention to the driver.
25:02Hi, I'm Joe, I'm one of the police officers at La Porte.
25:09Do you speak English?
25:10Do you understand the concerns we have about the car?
25:17La voiture?
25:17La voiture, oui.
25:19Oui.
25:19C'est une location de voiture.
25:21Yeah, so you have your documents?
25:23Yes.
25:24Joe needs some help speaking to the driver.
25:26I'm on the phone to the big word to get a French translator.
25:29OK.
25:30What I'm going to do...
25:31Hello there.
25:31Down to the French.
25:32My name's PC Withings, I'm a Port of Dover police officer.
25:35Are you OK here?
25:36Yeah.
25:37We've got a subject to stop with us in Border Force.
25:40We just need to start a bit of a conversation with them.
25:43They speak French.
25:44Français?
25:45Français, Anglais.
25:46OK.
25:46OK.
25:47Hello, can you hear me at all?
25:49Yeah, we're just making some inquiries because we believe the vehicle may be stolen.
25:54Can you ask the lady if it's her vehicle, please?
26:14Right, so she's saying her boyfriend, organized, hiring this vehicle from a third party, and
26:21she doesn't know who that third party is.
26:24OK, that's clear.
26:27While Joe and the driver try to communicate through a translator, Ian has made a breakthrough.
26:32I have established that the car is stolen, as I said it was, and it was stolen on 23rd
26:37of July this year.
26:40It's on false plates, the key's fake, the paperwork's fake, so she'll be losing that
26:45today.
26:46Merci.
26:47Merci.
26:48The woman claims she's come to the UK to meet a friend, but she doesn't appear to have
26:54any luggage for her stay.
26:55Yeah, so she, her account, she's come to the UK for five days to see a friend who lives
27:05in London, a dress unknown.
27:08All right.
27:08They've arranged a meet-up.
27:10Over his career, Ian has intercepted thousands of stolen vehicles.
27:17I think in one year I did recover about 300 or something, but they were either cut-up cars
27:23or they were being driven out or they were on the backs of lorries.
27:25But you do get a quantity of cars.
27:29And the UK isn't even the final destination for this left-hand drive car.
27:34They're bringing a French car in, it could be a German car, anywhere from mainland Europe
27:39into the UK, and it will be taken to certain locations within the UK where it will be put
27:46into a container and shipped out to Africa or somewhere like that.
27:50What's this, £40,000 worth of car, and the criminal gangs don't pay anything for it,
27:56and then they get money for it.
27:57So it's all part of a ring.
28:01This could be payment for other services that have been provided.
28:05It depends on the OCG, Organised Crime Group.
28:09With me, please.
28:12Two minutes.
28:14For Joe, despite his lack of language skills, it's a job well done.
28:18Le Ferry, 1640.
28:24She'll be making her way straight back to France, and she'll be dealt with by the French authorities
28:28because it is all a French matter, a French vehicle on French soil.
28:33OK, au revoir, bonne chance.
28:37It bugs me that my French isn't up to doing all this myself.
28:40Every time I have a job like this, I think I must get back into it and start revising
28:44because you just lose so much when you're going through a third party.
28:48Hopefully this won't be too different to driving the police, Rav,
28:51other than I've been on the wrong side.
28:54The car will now be impounded, and the driver will head back to France, on foot.
28:59Out at sea, another boat is trying to dock at Dover.
29:12What a day for it, really.
29:14This skipper is attempting her first solo voyage around the UK,
29:18but she needs to navigate Dover's treacherous waters.
29:22So, at the moment, there's a big tidal effect pushing me towards the breakwater,
29:27so I'm having to steer out.
29:37Airlines, GPs and pharmacies have warned that the effects of a global IT crash yesterday
29:42will continue to be found through this weekend and beyond.
29:46The boss of the cyber security firm responsible for the outage
29:49says it's fixed the problem with its software,
29:52but warned that it will take some time for systems to be fully restored.
29:58It's the day after the world's computers crashed.
30:02Roger, just give us a bit of a warning
30:04before you want the gantry signs changing, yeah?
30:07Yes, yes, Roger.
30:09Although the fallout is still creating havoc across the country,
30:12in Dover, their tech is up and running,
30:15and the traffic is flowing smoothly.
30:17The port's CEO, Doug, has come down to see for himself
30:25how the team are managing to keep things on track.
30:27Good day, mate.
30:30How's the trip going so far?
30:32Slow, but...
30:34But getting through.
30:35Yeah.
30:36Yeah, yeah. Enjoy your trip.
30:38On the very busy days, you know, I'll come down into the port.
30:43If there is a possibility of some media interest,
30:45I want to be on hand so that I can try and tell the story
30:49as accurately as I see it.
30:52Hello, are you guys okay?
30:54Nice hat.
30:55Thank you very much.
30:56It keeps us on all.
30:57How are you finding it today?
30:58Busy.
30:59Things are definitely flowing, which is the best thing.
31:01You know, one of my main roles is to front the port up to the public.
31:07This is a newsworthy place, so people want to know what's going on.
31:10It's one of the busiest travel and transport hubs in the entire country.
31:18It's a lovely day for a...
31:19I guess it won't.
31:20See?
31:21Doug's in high demand, with local and national media
31:25keen to hear how Dover's coping after the computer outage.
31:29Okay, Leanne, all set to go.
31:33We got impacted by the IT challenge, of course.
31:37We saw all of our security, CCTV, communication systems fail.
31:42But we fell back on our contingency plans,
31:44and we were able to get everybody through very smoothly.
31:48Okay, yes, that's all I need.
31:49Thank you very much.
31:51There's times we come under quite a lot of flack.
31:55Some of it is justified.
31:55If I was caught up in travel challenges that we have had,
31:59I know that I'd be feeling frustrated as well.
32:02Where we see reports where the flack maybe isn't fully justified,
32:07that can be really frustrating.
32:09We have 130 ferry crossings every day.
32:13It is a hugely busy place.
32:15But what we try to make certain of is everything is constantly moving.
32:27Over the summer, more than a million passengers
32:30are expected to travel through the port of Dover.
32:35And it's not just ferries, cars and lorries.
32:37With the sun shining, the port is a destination for yachts and pleasure boats.
32:43Yeah, I've got you 15, thank you, 0830.
32:53Have the part in here at the entrance, minute 41.
32:55Everything that comes in and out of the harbour
32:57has to get permission from us,
32:59whether that's the regular ferries,
33:01the cargo boats, cruise ships,
33:03and any of the small crafts,
33:04the local dive boats, fishing boats,
33:06even jet skis have to get permission,
33:08the verbal permission from us,
33:09to enter and leave the port.
33:11The team in vessel traffic services
33:13have to keep a watchful eye
33:15to make sure no-one falls foul of 40,000-ton ferries.
33:20Summer's very busy, yes.
33:21Small craft, English and foreign yachts,
33:24lots of local fishing boats in and out as well.
33:26So, yeah, very, very busy.
33:28On her way to Dover today is 22-year-old Freya.
33:32She's attempting to break the record
33:34by becoming the youngest woman
33:35to sail around Great Britain on her own.
33:38What a day for it, really.
33:41I sailed from Eastbourne to Dover
33:44and I'm just doing little hops
33:46all the way around the country
33:47and exploring, getting to see everywhere,
33:51having a great time,
33:52living my life out on the water.
33:55It's only a matter of time
33:56before VTS spots Freya
33:58and her boat, Pink Delta.
34:01We've got the radar so we can see things.
34:03There's a vessel up here,
34:04it's a mile and a half off now,
34:05heading this way.
34:05Dover, VTS, this is Pink Delta,
34:09requesting permission to enter
34:10through the western entrance heading for the marina.
34:13Over.
34:14Yes, you may enter the western entrance.
34:17Call me again before the marina, please.
34:21Freya has had some challenging moments
34:24throughout her trip.
34:25I had some really rough weather
34:27and my boat got completely knocked down on its side
34:29so the mast was in the water,
34:31there was water coming in through the cockpit.
34:33The boat then righted itself and carried on
34:35but I'd hit my head
34:37and then had to have the coast guard out.
34:41The conditions today couldn't be better
34:44but Freya still has to navigate
34:46one of the busiest shipping areas in the world.
34:49So at the moment there's a big tidal effect
34:52pushing me towards the breakwater
34:55so I'm having to steer it out
34:56and it's pushing me at probably three knots
34:58into that breakwater there
35:00so that could have a huge effect
35:01if I'm not moving very fast.
35:04The ships are massive compared to me.
35:06Their life rafts and their lifeboats
35:08are probably bigger than my entire ship.
35:11They can't see me coming.
35:13I'm hidden underneath the bow of their vessels
35:15so I very much have to keep out their way
35:17as much as possible.
35:19Dover VTS, this is Pink Delta
35:21looking to enter the marina.
35:23Over.
35:25Yes, you may enter the marina.
35:27Again, you can see those lights have changed
35:29to green and white to tell us
35:30they're allowed to enter the marina.
35:33So the reason we have to call to enter the marina
35:36is because of the lifeboat coming in and out.
35:38We can't impede the way of the lifeboat.
35:40Good morning, just head over to the old stocking
35:42and back to the breakwater.
35:44Yeah, that's fine.
35:45You're clear out of the wick channel then
35:46and over to the breakwater.
35:47So just keep a sharp look out.
35:49Got a few small craft in the area.
35:52I wasn't originally planning to come into Dover
35:55because on the chart it looks very, very complicated
35:57but it's a lot easier than I was expecting it to be, really.
36:01So I'm glad I've come in here.
36:02Freya's journey continues tomorrow.
36:13She'll be spending the night on her boat
36:14docked in Dover's marina.
36:17With space for nearly 400 boats
36:19the marina provides the perfect place
36:22to moor up for any visiting sailor.
36:24It's the home to the vessels of millionaires
36:28and some more modest craft.
36:31Mum, why are there so many castles in Dover?
36:34Like Freya, many of the boats are just passing through.
36:37I actually sailed in yesterday
36:39and we had a bit of rough seas.
36:41The weather started to come in
36:42and we were sort of passing Dungenettes
36:43and this is Bear.
36:47Sorry.
36:49Gets that up close and personal.
36:51Actually Bear, so Bear was sailing with us
36:53and Bear, his little face,
36:55he was just hidden under the table
36:57and honestly, it's just, he looks so terrified.
36:59These fish gals get everywhere.
37:09Other boats dock here permanently
37:11and are out at sea most days during the summer.
37:15How come you've got wellies on
37:16and I've got bare feet, eh?
37:18So we picked up the boat a couple of years ago
37:20and since then we've just been going out,
37:23doing a bit of fishing,
37:25generally potter around
37:26because now we're retired,
37:28it's just wonderful, you know?
37:30Yeah, we fish crabs, lobster
37:32and we do a little bit of long lining
37:34and of course we eat what we catch
37:36and if you like fish, that's a bonus.
37:38The community down here is just lovely.
37:42Everybody looks out for each other.
37:45Our boat is called Cheeky Girl.
37:47He refuses to go on the radio
37:49and say this is Cheeky Girl
37:51so I'll have to do all the radio work.
37:54Let's just put it this way,
37:55I'll leave that up to Sandy.
37:57I'll leave that to Sandy.
38:03At the port entrance,
38:05police officers have received an urgent shout.
38:08Reports of a dangerous and erratic driver.
38:13They need someone to come up here
38:14and do a cannabis swap on this driver.
38:17Hi, sorry about the delays.
38:31You need to go back and get a pass
38:35and then come back.
38:37There's no let up for Dover
38:40as thousands of holidaymakers
38:42descend on the ferry terminal
38:43for their summer break.
38:47The Dover police are working around the clock
38:50and with a force of nearly 40 officers,
38:53they're called out to all sorts of jobs.
38:59A shout has come in.
39:01A young man is driving erratically
39:03in and around the port.
39:06They need someone to come up here
39:08and do a cannabis swap on this driver.
39:11Oh, that makes sense.
39:20Yeah, thank you.
39:21Hiya.
39:22You alright?
39:22Yeah, you?
39:23Yes.
39:24The car's pulled out in front of them,
39:26caused them to break.
39:28Er,
39:28has then undertaken them
39:30and then been driving very close
39:32to a car in front.
39:34Basically,
39:35demonstrating careless driving.
39:37They pulled the vehicle.
39:38There's a strong smell of cannabis
39:39within the vehicle.
39:41Er,
39:41drug driving is sort of more prevalent now
39:43than drink driving.
39:44It seems to be the new drink driving.
39:47So,
39:48cannabis in the car.
39:50Er,
39:50I haven't done anything with that yet.
39:52Mm-hmm.
39:52That aspect of it.
39:53Er,
39:54I've, er,
39:54just,
39:55all I've done is recorded in my pocket notebook
39:56my initial conversation with him,
39:58which was obviously fact finding.
39:59He wasn't under caution at the time,
40:00so I've just,
40:01I've just cautioned him.
40:03Right.
40:04Now,
40:04you understand why you've been stopped.
40:06Yeah.
40:07And I've been told
40:08there's a strong aroma of cannabis
40:10in that vehicle.
40:11Alright?
40:11Before you answer any of these questions,
40:12I've got to,
40:13I've got to caution you.
40:13You don't have to say anything,
40:14but it may on your defence.
40:15If you do not mention one question,
40:17something that you later rely on call.
40:18Anything you do say,
40:19you may be given evidence.
40:20Do you understand that?
40:21Yeah.
40:21Right.
40:22Cool.
40:23Car stinks of weed.
40:24Yeah.
40:25And the best thing right now for you
40:26is honesty,
40:27because honesty will set you free.
40:29Well,
40:29am I correct in assuming
40:31that you use cannabis?
40:32Because your eyes tell me that you do.
40:33And be honest with me,
40:34when's the last time you smoked?
40:36Last night.
40:36Last night.
40:37What time?
40:39Nine o'clock,
40:40maybe.
40:40Nine o'clock?
40:41Yeah.
40:42Because the manner you're driving
40:44sort of constitutes careless driving,
40:46alright,
40:46that gives us the power
40:47to give you a swab.
40:49Alright,
40:49and depending on the results,
40:51that swab checks for
40:52cocaine and cannabis.
40:53Do you use any other
40:54sort of recreational drug?
40:55No.
40:56You don't?
40:57You sure?
40:59Okey dokey.
41:00So we are going to
41:01do a drugs wipe on him
41:03to see what's happening,
41:04see whether he's
41:05positive cannabis or not.
41:07You know what happens to people
41:08when they are drink drivers,
41:10don't you?
41:10What normally happens
41:12if they get
41:12prosecuted for that?
41:14They normally get
41:14banned from driving.
41:15All right.
41:23So I need you to just
41:24swell your tongue
41:25around your mouth
41:25three times, please,
41:26like this,
41:27and get some saliva generated.
41:30And if you stick
41:30your tongue out, please,
41:32a bit further.
41:34We get to stop
41:35a lot of the vehicles,
41:36so we get a bit
41:37of an inkling
41:37and to be able to see
41:39whether anybody
41:40is under the influence.
41:42So, yeah,
41:42it is something
41:43that we deal with
41:43a lot, unfortunately.
41:45More than 100 people
41:47are killed on UK roads
41:48every year,
41:49involving a driver
41:50who's taken drugs.
41:52So just like
41:53any other force
41:53in the country,
41:54the Port of Dover police
41:56take this issue
41:57very seriously.
41:59All right.
41:59It's eight minutes
42:00complete.
42:02What are we looking?
42:05Yeah, it's positive.
42:09It's going to be
42:10positive for cocaine
42:12by the looks of it.
42:13Remember earlier
42:14I said,
42:14to be honest with me,
42:16and I asked you,
42:17do you use any other
42:18drugs?
42:20And you told me no.
42:21You like a bit of coke,
42:22don't you?
42:24Are you seriously
42:27telling me
42:27that you do not
42:28use cocaine?
42:30Seriously.
42:31How?
42:32Right.
42:32I smoke a little bit.
42:34Right, OK.
42:35Well, it's quite possible
42:36that your weed's
42:37been cut with coke.
42:37because we have a
42:41positive sample
42:42for cocaine.
42:44Bearing in mind
42:45of the sample
42:46that you've given us,
42:48all right,
42:48you're now under arrest
42:49for providing
42:50a positive swab
42:51for cocaine.
42:53So, you do not have
42:53to say anything,
42:54but it may,
42:55on your defence,
42:55if you do not mention
42:56when questioned
42:56something you later
42:57are in court,
42:57anything you do say
42:58may be given evidence.
42:59The time now
43:00is 07.35
43:01and you are
43:02under arrest.
43:04Just put your hands
43:05like that for me.
43:07All right.
43:07Well, we're going to
43:08take bloods from you
43:09for an evidential sample.
43:11All right.
43:12So, it's a bit like
43:13drink driving,
43:13like I said before,
43:14but this is all
43:15to do with drugs.
43:17All right.
43:18The driver's tested
43:19positive for cocaine,
43:20so he's subsequently
43:21been arrested
43:22for the offence.
43:23So, he'll be taken
43:24to custody.
43:25We're going to conduct
43:26a search of the vehicle
43:27onto Section 23
43:28of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
43:29How much weed
43:30has he got?
43:31It's only a partial 10 bag.
43:35A 10 bag is
43:36£10 worth of cannabis.
43:39So, that's what
43:40you get for your money.
43:46What do you say
43:46about the cocaine?
43:48He denies it,
43:49he adamantly denies it,
43:51but there is little
43:52white specks
43:52in that cannabis bag.
43:55Oh, is there?
43:55Yeah.
43:56Before the driver
43:59can be taken
44:00into custody,
44:01officers Steve
44:02and Emma
44:02need to conduct
44:03a fingertip search
44:04of the car.
44:05And often,
44:06these searches
44:06can produce
44:07unexpected results.
44:08only the other week
44:11we had trip wires
44:13with shotgun shells
44:14attached to them.
44:16Some chap had been
44:17on holiday in Wales
44:18and said that
44:20he'd done it
44:21to protect his camp
44:22and in case the sheep
44:24tripped the wire.
44:27I mean,
44:28he was,
44:28I think he was
44:28from Lithuania.
44:30He couldn't seem
44:31to understand
44:31what the problem was,
44:32was carrying explosives
44:33through the port
44:35undeclared.
44:37This is just like
44:38travelling through
44:38an airport.
44:39And generally,
44:40if you're a low-level
44:41cannabis user,
44:43you'd never dream
44:44of taking cannabis
44:45through Gatwick
44:46or Heathrow,
44:46but people seem
44:47to underestimate
44:48the port.
44:49It does have
44:50the same security measures
44:51as any airport
44:52in the country.
44:54And we do find
44:56quite a bit
44:57of drugs,
44:58prohibited weapons,
45:00explosives even
45:02in the past as well.
45:04But that's good.
45:06The Dover Force
45:08only has one small office.
45:10It has no cells
45:11to hold someone
45:12under arrest.
45:13So Steve and Emma
45:14need to take the driver
45:15to Canterbury Police Station.
45:17Some 30 minutes away,
45:19stretching police resources
45:21in the port considerably.
45:23So in effect,
45:24on this busy day,
45:26both Emma and I
45:27are now realistically,
45:29if the gods
45:29are in our favour,
45:30we're out the game
45:31for five hours.
45:33Cheers, guys.
45:35Thank you very much.
45:37Off to sunny Canterbury.
45:38Thanks.
45:49Next time.
45:55Oh, it's going to be tight.
45:57It's the busiest day
45:58of the year
45:59for Dover's cruise terminal.
46:00It's always chaotic
46:01when we start
46:02doing debark.
46:03Three ships,
46:05thousands of passengers,
46:06and a major delay
46:07puts the entire
46:08port operation at risk.
46:10The ship will still
46:11want to go
46:11at five o'clock,
46:12so we've got to make up
46:13that time somehow.
46:14Engineers have urgent works
46:16to do on Dover's
46:17White Cliffs.
46:18We don't want the risk
46:19of dropping chalk
46:20onto live traffic lanes.
46:22And the police
46:23stop a man
46:24wanted on immigration offences.
46:26Just so you understand,
46:28my name is PC Ashton.
46:29I'm from the Port Dover Police.
46:30I am looking for drugs.
46:33You clean this.
46:34I'm crazy, am I?
47:00I am.
47:08I am.
47:08You clean this.
47:19I am.
47:20I am.
47:22I am.
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