New Police Unit to Fly in at Airport

By Andrew Picken

A DEDICATED police unit is to be created at Edinburgh Airport for the first time after airport chiefs agreed to foot the bill.

Airport operator BAA has agreed to pay the GBP 2.5 million annual cost of the new unit, which will have more officers than are currently posted at the airport and will no longer be drawn from other parts of the Lothian and Borders force.

The move follows months of wrangling between the two sides over the extra costs of policing Edinburgh Airport in the wake of the increased terror threat and growing number of flights.

An extra five officers will be added to the current total of 39 on duty, with an increase in those authorised to use firearms.

Earlier this year, the News revealed police chiefs had been left to pick up a bill of around GBP 1.2 million for airport security over the past three years because of a shortfall in BAA’s contribution.

Although commercial operations are required by law to contribute towards the cost of policing their premises, there had traditionally been no fixed criteria for exactly what they should pay.

BAA had been picking up around 75 per cent of the bill, but will now pay the full amount.

Police chiefs today welcomed the agreement, saying the benefits of not having to call on resources from other parts of the force will be felt by everyone in the Lothians.

Councillor Iain Whyte, the chairman of the Lothian and Borders Police Board, and the city’s Tory leader, said: “There’s been a recognition that the previous funding wasn’t sufficient to meet the growing needs of the airport.

“This is a good result all round and shows the advantages of the partnership working between the force and BAA.”

A police spokesman said: “An important aspect of this arrangement is that the policing presence in the communities will not be compromised as we will have a dedicated team at the airport – there will be no need to call on resources from other areas.”

A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: “BAA Edinburgh values the important role Lothian and Borders Police plays in ensuring the safety of our passengers, particularly in the aftermath of the attack on Glasgow Airport.”

Originally published by Andrew Picken Transport Reporter.

(c) 2007 Evening News; Edinburgh (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.