Kent crime commissioner Matthew Scott says he wants the government to require cross channel operators to provide the force with advanced information about passengers.

Mr Scott flagged up the issue with the transport secretary Chris Grayling during a recent visit to Kent.

The meeting took place before the latest terrorist attack in Berlin but the commissioner said he had raised the subject because of on-going concerns about security.

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He said advanced information was provided by some operators ahead of channel crossings but not all did.

“During my conversations with Kent police officers they have raised concerns that we don't always get advanced passenger information from some of the operators that bring people into the UK. The information we get from these operators can help us reduce crime and also let us know who is coming into the country and who's going out.”

He added: “It would be helpful to us if some of these operators could provide the information so we can do more to keep people safe.”

He said he would like operators to be required by law to provide details from what are known as Advanced Passenger Information, as most airlines routinely do.

“Given the risks that we face as a country and given the volume of traffic - both passenger and freight - that we get through the county, this is very important information for us.”

“If we don't know who is going in and out of the country we cannot prevent incidents from taking place. However, we have to be mindful about the way in which such people may present themselves.”