Project Kraken

What is Project Kraken?

Project Kraken is a national initiative to raise public awareness of terrorism and criminal or suspicious activity around our coasts and borders. This includes locations such as:

• marinas
• moorings
• smaller ports
• docks
• on water

Common types of coastal crime include:

• theft
• smuggling
• criminal damage

What to look out for

Suspicious people

If you see people doing any of the following, it may be a sign of criminal or terrorist activity:

• using video devices to record power stations, military bases, bridges, or critical infrastructure
• taking photographs, or making notes or drawings of restricted areas and ‘vulnerable sites’, such as power stations
• avoiding answering common boating questions, deliberately avoiding contact with other people, or drawing attention to themselves
• putting objects into the water near bridges, pipes, or infrastructure
• making large cash payments, or asking for daily extensions of marina or port mooring
• buying or transporting unusual equipment, chemicals, uniforms, or identification
• making attempts to signal or guide boats offshore
• loitering with no sense of purpose or acting nervously

Suspicious vehicles

Other possible signs of coastal crime include:

• unusual vessels in a marina, or someone who seems to be testing the security of a marina or restricted area to see if they’re challenged
• suspicious charter vessels or rental boats
• vehicles parked in isolated places along waterways
• boats unloading people who look scared or suspicious
• boats unloading packages

Warning signs for maritime workers

If you work in the maritime industry, you should also look out for the following types of suspicious activity:

• nervous crew who don’t seem to know maritime protocols
• boats with unusual modifications or which show signs of minor damage
• people charting or hiring boats and then making unusual requests, such as asking to change a route or go closer to restricted areas
• people trying to get employment at sensitive sites or with suppliers who have access to restricted areas or vulnerable sites

What you can do about it

If you suspect possible terrorist activity you can report possible terrorist activity online, or on the Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321, or if you suspect an immediate danger, please move away and call 999 now.

Or call the Coastal Crime Line on 0800 011 3304 and quote 'Project Kraken'. 

If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service 18000 or text us on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergencySMS service.

Or you can report your information online to Crimestoppers.

Please remember: don’t put yourself in a dangerous situation or take any risks; don’t approach anyone you suspect. Report it to us as soon as you can.