Operators should pay bigger slice of soaring cost of policing airports

37/07
24 July 2007

The escalating cost of policing the UK’s airports, which includes additional counter-terrorism measures, will be the focus of debate for police authorities and police forces meeting at Heathrow next week.

Len Duvall, chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority, which is co-hosting the event with the Metropolitan Police on Monday (30 July), said:

“Here in London we are still negotiating with BAA for them to pay a larger proportion of the overall policing costs for Heathrow.

“But around the country we need to reach a fair settlement with all operators that will see police shouldering less of the financial burden for policing privately owned commercial businesses. This would mean police budgets would be under less strain and taxpayers would not be subsidising moneymaking private enterprises.

“Recent events have shown the vital role police play providing security at our airports. The attempted terrorist attack on Glasgow airport was a stark reminder of how much we rely on a police presence to protect passengers and staff at our major transport hubs, while securing our national infrastructure.

“It is now more important than ever that we reach a reasonable agreement with airport operators, whether or not their airports are required by law to contribute to policing costs or not.”

Up to 45 representatives of police authorities and police forces are expected to attend the meeting on 30 July to discuss how they can work together to recover more fully the costs of policing the UK’s nine major airports. Under the Aviation Security Act 1982, nine designated airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow, are required to contribute to policing costs. However, how much they pay is open to local negotiation and agreement.

“Although BAA pays towards policing costs for Heathrow, the owners of London City airport do not pay a penny, despite the considerable police resources we deploy to protect it and the people who use it,” Mr Duvall said. “This, quite frankly, is a disgraceful situation and one that needs to be rectified quickly.

“I wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport last December asking that London City Airport be designated under section 25 of the Aviation Security Act 1982, meaning the owners would foot the policing bill instead of the police and the taxpayers. That hasn’t happened and the situation remains unchanged, with the drain on police finances continuing.

“Policing London costs £3 billion a year and every penny is needed to deter and detect crime, keep Londoners and visitors safe from terrorism, and provide reassurance through our Safer Neighbourhoods teams. It’s time for airport operators to take their fair share of the responsibility for keeping their businesses and the people who use them safe.“

Mr Duvall added:

“The lack of a national agreement has meant it has been increasingly difficult to recover what police consider to be a fair proportion of the costs from airport operators.

“Our talks here in London with BAA have been constructive and we are hopeful of a settlement that is mutually agreeable.

“However, we continue to have little success in persuading London City airport to make a fair contribution to policing costs. Their position in my opinion is untenable and they should pay their fair share.

“The Association of Chief Police Officers has called for a security surcharge on the cost of tickets to help fund airport policing, and this and other ideas should be fully explored.

“By bringing together police authorities and police forces from across the country, we hope to build a common purpose and a nationally agreed settlement that all parties will find acceptable, without compromising the safety of passengers and staff, nor diminishing the service provided by police.”

Notes to editors

Nine airports are currently designated: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester, Prestwick, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

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