Major 999 exercise at the Port of Dover

A large scale exercise aimed at testing Kent's response to a major chemical incident will be held at the Port of Dover on Thursday 22nd March.

Based on the scenario that, during routine controls, a lorry's cargo of hazardous substance has been damaged, specialist equipment and staff from a number of Kent agencies will be in action in the aftermath.

Organised by the Kent Resilience Forum, Exercise Dover Shield is one of a number of countrywide exercises required by the Government to examine multi-agency planning and preparation at key UK sites.

Staff, equipment and specialist vehicles from Kent Police, South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and Kent Fire and Rescue Service will be amongst those taking part near the Eastern Docks roundabout.

Other agencies playing a key role in the event, which runs from around 9am to 2pm, include the Port of Dover and Port of Dover Police, UK Border Agency, Kent County Council, Dover District Council, East and West Kent Health, the Health Protection Agency, the Military, ferry operator DFDS and the Environment Agency.

The Port will remain open for business and operating as normal throughout the exercise. No actual chemicals will be used during the event although the scenario will involve a number of simulated casualties.