Ten per cent of crew on Dover-to-Calais ferry fail drugs test in biggest ever bust in the Channel
Over 10 per cent of the crew on the P&O ferry gave 'non-negative' urine samples when tested as they crossed the English Channel on Thursday
THIRTEEN crew have failed random tests in the biggest drugs bust ever on a cross-Channel ferry.
More than a tenth of the 104-strong crew on P&O’s Pride of Canterbury produced “non-negative” urine samples when tested at sea on two crossings on Thursday.
The results shocked P&O bosses who informed police and vowed to sack anyone found to have broken its zero tolerance drugs policy.
A P&O spokesman said yesterday: “We’ve never had a drugs incident involving this many staff before.”
The ferry giant declined to divulge which staff on board failed tests for controlled substances but confirmed no officers were involved.
A source told The Sun that some of those caught worked in the 30,000-tonne car ferry decking department.
And several of the 13 have roles which put them in regular contact with up to 2,000 passengers making daily crossings from Dover to Calais aboard the huge vessel.
A P&O Ferries spokesman said: “As part of routine drugs testing of our crews, 13 individuals on the Pride of Canterbury recorded non-negative tests, which have now been sent for further analysis.
“P&O Ferries operates a zero tolerance policy towards substance abuse and any employees not complying with it will be dismissed.
“Urine tests were carried out on Thursday during a number of crossings between Dover and Calais over a four hour period.
“No substances were found but Port of Dover Police have been routinely informed.”
It’s not the first time staff on the ship have caused controversy.
In September 2013 five P&O Ferries staff were suspended amid allegations rules around alcohol and drugs were breached.
The company confirmed action was taken pending an investigation into claims the strict policies had been “contravened”.
Under the Transport and Works Act 1992 it is a criminal offence for people in certain transport jobs to be drunk or on drugs while at work.
Two Pride of Canterbury passengers yesterday told how they heard staff had failed drug tests.
The pair, in their 60s, said that several P&O employees had seemed "visibly upset" over their colleague's ordeal.
One of the pensioners, who purchased duty-free cigarettes from Calais and travelled back to Dover on the liner during the same day, believed the suspended staff "should have known better."
The OAP, who asked not to be named, said: "We got a bus to the port this morning and people were talking about it.
"Staff were very upset. Some members of staff received an instant suspension over it.
"It's sad, especially at this time of year.
"But I suppose they are old enough to know better. I don't think they were doing anything on the boat. It could have been they were out the night before and had a good time, but I don't know.
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"But if you want a job you must adhere to the rules. They have a zero tolerance policy, which is a good thing. If you know there are random drugs tests you should not do it."
The other woman passenger told how she supported random drug tests and said all employers should carry them out.
Yesterday scores of vehicles were seen driving off the ship after it docked in the port of Dover, just after midday.
The white-coloured 25-year-old P&O cruiser left the Kent port at around 1pm and headed back to Calais.