Airports Police (Hansard, 21 March 1994)

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what procedures will exist for the Northern Ireland airport police to have access to information contained in the police computers operated by the RUC, Home Office forces and Scotland's constabularies, following the airports police privatisation.

§ Mr. Tim Smith
The Northern Ireland airports constabulary does not and will not have direct access to information held on computers operated by the RUC, Home Office forces or Scottish constabularies. Where the airport police require such information to carry out their duty, they will seek advice from the local RUC, as is the case at present.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to ensure that the Northern Ireland airport police will be subject to all existing criminal evidence procedure and legislation following their privatisation.

§ Mr. Tim Smith
The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 has been amended for that purpose and will apply to all airport constabularies authorised under article 19 of the Airports (Northern Ireland) Order 1994.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements will be made to ensure that the Northern Ireland airport police continue to be subject to the existing police complaints procedures following their privatisation.
64W

§ Mr. Tim Smith
The present arrangement between Northern Ireland Airports Ltd. and the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland will be extended to the successor company after privatisation of the airport.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review the decision to privatise the Northern Ireland airport police following the decision to review security at United Kingdom's international airports.

§ Mr. Tim Smith
A detailed review of security at Belfast international airport has just been completed and Government security advisers are content with the proposed arrangements for policing after privatisation.