Allister concerned by policing reduction at International Airport
27 March 2012
TUV Leader Jim Allister has expressed concern at the plans of Belfast International Airport to radically reduce the policing presence by making 8 Auxiliary Constables redundant and leaving only a compliment of 13 officers to provide a rota of 24 hour cover.
"With annual passenger traffic over 4 million, the current security threat level at 'severe' and a spate of airport staff having appeared in court on theft charges*, this is no time for the International Airport to be cutting back on security. This is a big year for tourism and tourist confidence must be kept high. Reducing security will have the opposite effect. The Auxiliary Constables provided the majority of the security role.
"It's not as if the Airport can't afford security. The Abertis Group, who own it, made a net profit of 662 million Euro in 2010.
"When the airport was privatised assurances were given in parliament that security would not be sacrificed for profit. Now, it seems that that is exactly what is happening.
"I am calling on the Tourism Minister to engage with BIA and challenge why they are embarking on this course.
*On 6th March 2012 at Antrim Court, when the 4th member of airport staff in recent months appeared on theft charges, Deputy Judge Alcorn said: "It will soon be that with the numbers of employees coming through here, people won't be safe going to the airport."
