New Airport Watch program launched at Brisbane Airport

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) have welcomed the roll out of the national ‘Airport Watch’ initiative, which officially started in Brisbane today.

Developed by the AFP in partnership with the Office of Transport Security, the program focuses on identifying suspicious activity and resolving matters with a real-time response. The initiative, based on the well-known ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ program, encourages people working or conducting business at airports to more easily identify and report suspicious behaviour to the AFP.

AFP Brisbane Airport Police Commander Grant Edwards said the Airport Watch program will reduce the likelihood of serious crimes happening in our airports, through enhanced cooperation of local stakeholders and aviation partners.

“Safer airports mean a reduced risk of a security or crime incident occurring,” Commander Edwards said.

BAC CEO and Managing Director Julieanne Alroe said Brisbane Airport was pleased to support an initiative that enhances the reporting, detection and resolution of suspicious activity at the airport.

“The longevity of the Neighbourhood Watch program proves its success and to bring a similar initiative into the airport environment will be very beneficial, reminding everyone that they play an important role in keeping the Brisbane Airport safe,” Ms Alroe said.

The AFP operates at Australia’s 10 major airports and provides a first-response capability to potential terrorist attacks, delivering an immediate policing response to crime and disorder incidents, and investigating serious and organised crime.

Airport Watch complements the AFP’s existing capabilities, which include community policing and counter-terrorist first response capability, air security officers, joint intelligence teams and joint investigation teams, bomb appraisal officers and firearms and explosive detection canines.

The Airport Watch call to action is See it, Hear it, Report it. The AFP requests that if members of the Aviation community see something unusual or notice any suspicious behaviour or hear a threatening or unusual conversation, they contact the AFP by dialling 131 AFP.

More information on Airport Watch can be found here http://www.afp.gov.au/policing/aviation/airport-watch.aspx.