NORTH-EAST harbour police are being featured in the latest series of ITV's Crimefighters programme.

Teesport is the second busiest port in Britain, with more than 5,500 ships coming in each year, bringing with them 54 million tonnes of cargo and, potentially, weapons, drugs and illegal immigrants.

The opening episode of Crimefighters finds out how a small and dedicated team of officers patrol 15 miles of waterfront at Tees Harbour, from Redcar to Hartlepool.

The importance of their work has increased massively since the September 11 terrorist attacks, not least because the port handles huge amounts of potentially dangerous chemicals.

Film crews spent a week on night shift with Sergeant Jim Bone and his colleague, PC Tom Taylor.

The pair are filmed as they deal with intruders in the dock, where search dogs are sent in to a warehouse to try to catch the culprits. The officers also investigate a vanishing motorist and an illegal car.

Crimefighters was also granted access to Cleveland Police's Special Branch and firearms officers.

The programme is at 11pm on Thursday, August 4.

Published: 26/07/2005