Airport Watch Takes Off at Cardiff

February 24, 2004

Airport Watch Takes Off at Cardiff 
ic Wales, UK 
 
  
IN A BID to combat international terrorists at
airports, police have turned to the tactics first
pioneered on Neighbourhood Watch schemes.

South Wales Police's Airport Watch got off the ground
at Cardiff International yesterday, with farmers, taxi
drivers and plane spotters being asked to keep their
eyes peeled for suspicious activity.

The campaign - believed to be only the second in the
UK - bolsters the police's armed presence in the area.

Chief Superintendent Neil Jellings said, "We're
starting to get to the busier time of year for the
airport, and although we've had a substantial
commitment of officers, there's nothing like having
the support of a very wide community.

"When you think 1.9m passengers come through the
airport each year - in addition to residents and
farmers - if they're all looking and assisting us,
it's going to make a huge difference to the amount of
intelligence coming in.

"We want to hear about anything people feel is out of
the ordinary. It might be a person, a car or anything,
but basically we're looking to encourage people who
are sometimes reluctant to ring."

The Airport Policing Group is responsible for armed
patrols around the airport and underneath the
flight-path.

Officers regularly practise responses to a whole range
of scenarios, from dealing with hijacks to suicide
bombers.

South Wales Police said yesterday's launch was not a
response to any specific threats to the airport's
security.

Taxi driver Stephen Slimings of Cardiff Airport Taxis
said, "It's in everybody's interest to keep in touch
if they see anything suspicious.

"Being in the taxi business we're often the first
point of contact and we've had calls from Special
Branch asking questions about where we've taken
people."

But nearby farmer Gwilym Davies, of Glebe Farm, was
sceptical. The 62-year-old said, "It won't be much
good if it's not better than Neighbourhood Watch, but
we'll just have to see how it goes."
 

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