Central Ayrshire MP Brian Donohoe has welcomed measures set out in yesterday’s Queens Speech and is urging the government to take some bold decisions with respect to one particular part of its agenda summarised in the speech. o The bill he has singled out will address airport security, and while welcoming it, Mr Donohoe has proposed that as part of any new security measures a new national police force should be created, which is dedicated to airports.o Mr Donohoe said "I am very pleased that the Government is pledging to enhance airport security, which is an issue that I imagine all of us who travel have been concerned about in recent years. But now I think it is time for some bold measures, including the setting up of a national airport police force."
In-between his commitments as an MP, Mr Donohoe acts as a community police officer in what is currently the UK's only national police force – the British Transport Police. o It is his experience at the sharp end of transport policing, as well as his extensive knowledge of Transport issues in general and of airports in particular that leads him to propose this radical move: 0 "A national force dedicated to airports could achieve a huge degree of focus, both in operational issues and in intelligence gathering. o I am aware that there are dedicated teams operating for example at John Lennon airport in Liverpool, and I have no doubt that they have gained a great deal of experience that could be usefully shared across other airports, and enhanced as a result of the greater geographical presence and resources of a national force. o The challenges facing police at airports are completely different to those applicable in any other sector and require different solutions. o Security issues at airports are not local, they are national, if not international. o It strikes me that a new UK-wide force would dramatically increase safety both on the ground at airports, and in the air."
Mr Donohoe is writing to Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon MP outlining his proposals.