Ms Cameron (34) was stopped by police, allegedly under the Terrorism Act, but the case has subsequently been dropped by the Procurator Fiscal.

Action was taken after Ms Cameron walked along the port’s dedicated cycle path, entering the area without the necessary pass and despite, it’s claimed, being warned pedestrians were banned.

A port spokesman said today police were called after a visitor was repeatedly told she was breaching a Government-backed code.

“Port of Dundee Ltd has fully complied with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, implemented in July 2004,” said the spokesman.

“This Code is intended to enhance UK port security and guard against acts of terrorism.

“The Port of Dundee has developed a security protocol required for compliance with the Code, resulting in access to the port being controlled via designated security gates and the perimeter of the port estate being secured.

“On May 13, a woman was apprehended by Tayside Police after entering the Port of Dundee without authorisation. Her arrest was made under the ISPS Code.

“The woman’s arrest came after she entered the port despite being informed by a security guard she had no authority to do so.

“Subsequently she was warned on a further occasion she had no authority to be within the port. As the woman chose to ignore requests from port and security staff, the decision was taken to contact police.”

Ms Cameron described police cars cutting her off “like a scene from Starsky and Hutch”.

Though the path is for cyclists only, she argued it was isolated and “you can’t just wander down the path and stick a bomb on a ship”.

She said today she had the necessary form and was considering applying for a security pass.

She said, “I think it’s heavy handed. If it’s a restricted area it’s a restricted area, which surely means that you can’t cycle or walk there.

“It’s not enclosed, really it’s not anything more than a path. I have walked there my whole life.

“What they have done is ridiculous. It was funny that all the time they were detaining me there were cyclists going past, and people were cheering.

“I have the forms and I am considering whether I should apply for a pass, but I don’t know whether they’ll give me one.”

Ms Cameron said she was held by officers for several hours in the aftermath of the incident — a claim denied by police today.

A force spokeswoman said, “Tayside Police can confirm a woman was reported to the Procurator Fiscal in Dundee for breaching Port Authority Regulations.

“The woman was found walking within in a restricted area without authority. The woman was never detained by Tayside Police.

“She was escorted out of the area and subsequently reported to the Procurator Fiscal under the Ship and Port Facility Security Regulations for being in a restricted area without permission and for failing to leave the area when requested to do so by the port authority.”

The Procurator Fiscal subsequently informed Ms Cameron she would not be prosecuted.

Owners Forth Ports had originally tried to ban cyclists from the harbour area for health and safety reasons but a cyclists’ demonstration persuaded them they should get together with Dundee City Council and work out a solution.

The result was a path was officially opened in September 2004.

A decision to ban pedestrians and wheelchair users from the cycle route was branded “unsatisfactory” by campaigners at the time.

Since its launch, hundreds of cyclists have obtained a pass allowing them to use the 1.4 mile route between the level crossing on Camperdown Street and Lower Broughty Ferry Road.

The port spokesman added, “All visitors to the Port of Dundee are required to obtain a pass from the security gatehouse.”