Jumbo row over Leeds Bradford Airport policing hits new heights

The government has been forced to step into a row over who should pay for policing Leeds-Bradford Airport.  Justine Greening will rule on the issue after police and airport bosses failed to reach agreement despite months of talks. Under the 2009 Police and Crime Act, parliament said airport operators should pay for specific policing costs caused by their activities. West Yorkshire Police last night refused to comment on the current level of policing at the airport, how much it costs or whether it is adequate.

By Sam Casey

 11 July 2012 

The government has been forced to step into a row over who should pay for policing Leeds-Bradford Airport.

Transport secretary Justine Greening will rule on the issue after police and airport bosses failed to reach agreement despite months of talks.

Under the 2009 Police and Crime Act, parliament said airport operators should pay for specific policing costs caused by their activities.

West Yorkshire Police last night refused to comment on the current level of policing at the airport, how much it costs or whether it is adequate.

But Assistant Chief Constable Jawaid Akhtar said: “Our primary concern is the safety and security of the public who work at or use the airport. We need to have sufficient police officers working at the airport to achieve the aim of protecting the public by mitigating the identified risks.

“It is now a matter for the secretary of state to determine the level of policing. In the meantime, in the interests of public safety, we have continued to police the airport while balancing this with the many other competing demands.”

Steven Rollinson, chairman of West Yorkshire Police Authority’s specialist policing committee, added: “The legislation is in place to ensure that policing arrangements at airports are sufficient to mitigate the risk to security and that the policing costs are met in full by the airport operator.

“Members of the specialist policing committee are clear that cost should not be the over-riding factor in any decision.

“It should be the safety and security of the travelling public, those who work at the airport and the wider community.

“We and the force want to ensure that the airport is properly policed.”

The airport declined to comment.