"UK airport 'vulnerable' to intrusion"

Monday, June 23, 2008

Airport 'vulnerable' to intrusion  
Broken sections of perimeter fencing are covered in plastic mesh
United Kingdom - BBC News


One of the UK's fastest growing regional airports is "vulnerable" to
intrusion and has no permanent police team, a BBC investigation has
revealed. 

Annual passenger numbers at Bournemouth Airport in Dorset are one million
and could reach three million by 2014. 

But at a time when the national terror threat level is "severe", the airport
has gaps in its perimeter fencing. 

An airport spokesman said security was its "highest priority" and it had a
range of non-visible measures. 

A BBC South Today examination of perimeter fencing at the airport showed
stretches where it had collapsed had been covered in loose plastic, and in
places at the back of the airport, was non-existent. 

We believe it is unfair that the aviation industry alone should bear the
cost of responding to the threat of international terrorism 

MAG Regional Airports 

Terrorism expert Professor Frank Gregory, of the University of Southampton,
said: "I see the airport as being vulnerable to a number of intrusions - for
a whole variety of purposes, protests etc - and I am surprised there is not
a consistent standard of barrier around the whole perimeter." 

There are nine designated airports in UK where operators have to pay for
policing - they are the larger ones categorised by the government and
include Gatwick and Heathrow, but not Bournemouth. 

There is no specific security threat to Bournemouth Airport and, although
police do carry out regular patrols around the terminal and the airport
perimeter, there is no permanent police presence. 

Insp Andy Earley, of Dorset Police, said: "We will increase our numbers
proportionate to the number of passengers. 

"What I'd like to do is move towards neighbourhood policing, looking to
police the airport as a community on its own. 
 
Terror expert Professor Frank Gregory inspects a broken wire fence 

"That would allow us to actually to take a greater ownership of the airport
and understand what the concerns are of everybody in that community and to
ensure that we know if something's out of place." 

The Department for Transport has overall responsibility of UK aviation
security and is responsible for setting, monitoring and enforcing the
National Aviation Security Programme. 

Any new or extra policing would have to be funded by Dorset tax payers, but
there are calls for the airport's private operator to help pay for officers.


Clive Chamberlain, the chairman of the Dorset Police Federation, said: "The
money being provided by central government is diminishing at a time when the
airport is becoming busier. 

"My belief is that funding should come partly from the people who run the
airports, because they're the people making a profit out of what they're
doing, it's a private company." 

Besides fencing, a range of non-visible security measures are in place to
ensure security of an airfield 

MAG Regional Airports 

MAG Regional Airports, which owns and operates Bournemouth Airport, said the
cost of responding to the threat of international terrorism should be funded
by central government. 

In a statement, the company said: "The security of passengers, staff and
businesses operating at the airport is our highest priority. 

"The demanding security regime we follow is laid down by government and we
bear all the cost of implementing these regulations ourselves. 

"Since 9/11, the cost to the UK aviation industry of increased security has
risen by 150%. 

"We have a long-established and positive working relationship with Dorset
police and, like all businesses in the county, already pay for local
policing through business rates. 

"We believe it is unfair that the aviation industry alone should bear the
cost of responding to the threat of international terrorism, neither should
the local force - it should be centrally funded." 

On the level of its fencing, MAG Regional Airports said the redevelopment of
Bournemouth Airport would provide the opportunity to renew fencing as part
of facility improvements and "not driven by the requirements of the security
regime". 

It added: "The requirements for fencing are dictated by the Department for
Transport and depend on the level of security required. 

"However, fencing is only one manifestation of the security regime. 

"Besides fencing, a range of non-visible security measures are in place to
ensure security of an airfield and the protection of passengers and aircraft
according to strict government regulations."

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