§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what responsibilities private police forces in(a) ports and (b) airports have under airports and aviation security laws. [102435]
§ Mr. MullinIn the main, airport authorities employ either their own staff or, more usually, contract security companies to carry out security duties at airports required by the Department under the Aviation Security Act 1982, as amended by the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 (AMSA). However, Belfast International Airport employs its own police force, numbering about 50. Police officers' duties include perimeter security, patrolling the airport restricted zone and controlling access at one staff checkpoint to the restricted zone. In addition, they will respond to any incidents.
The ports of Belfast, Larne, Liverpool, Bristol, Dover and Tilbury, covered by the AMSA legislation, have private police forces. Each port makes its own arrangements for the use of Ports police, and these vary between the ports.
In addition, Felixstowe, which is not covered by the AMSA legislation, employs private ports police to carry out its own security functions.