 Broken sections of perimeter fencing are covered in plastic mesh |
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 |
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, 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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