Locals want better police cover at Cardiff airport
01.01.06
Worried locals have called for security to be stepped up at Cardiff Airport, after it was revealed police are not on round-the-clock duty there.
The airport is not on a list of nine major airports that are entitled by law to 24-hour patrols from local police. But locals say the list, which was drawn up by the government in the 1970s, is now out of date and should take into consideration the heightened terror threats at all airports.
Cardiff Airport operations director Graeme Gamble said: 'If there was a major incident, police would respond as they do to any incident in South Wales.' He said police would need to bring in extra staff, and other emergency services, whether they were on site at the time or not.
Mr Gamble added: 'Security scanning staff are here 24 hours a day, to scan staff and passengers and do perimeter checks of the airport.' He said matters such as theft were dealt with at Barry Police Station, and added that 24-hour policing was not something they had ever relied on.
A Government review of airport security was announced last month and is expected by spring.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'Suggestions that such airports are left 'unguarded' are not true. The main responsibility for security at an airport lies with the airport itself, which must implement measures laid down under legal direction by the Department for Transport. Policing at airports that are designated is in addition and complements these security measures.'
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