Law enforcement agencies dedicated to policing airports
Airport police units are a security police agency assigned to perform law enforcement functions at airports. They provide a wide range of law enforcement duties and responsibilities including patrol, investigation, traffic flow management, and control and response to airport emergencies.[1] Airport police provide enhanced safety to airport employees, and to passengers. Officers can be found at security gates, throughout the terminal area, and around the airport’s perimeter.[2]
In some cases, airport police are branches of larger general purposes agencies. "Airport Safety Officers," are cross-trained in Fire, Emergency Medical Services, law enforcement, and even military units. They support federal security directives and initiatives, airline security programs and passenger screening, enforce airport rules and regulations on the airfield and within secured areas, and assist with traffic and crowd control. Airport police agencies are vital components of the international aviation security system but do not, in themselves, perform all aspects of airport security force.
In Indonesia, security in airports are handled by different agencies. The Indonesian National Police officers basically enforce law and order in the airport facility. Screening officers in the other hand are conducted by "Aviation Security" (abbreviated "AVSEC") personnel which wear blue uniforms and blue side caps. For parking, traffic control and external security of the airport are handled by Security guards which are administered under the Airport's management. As per 2015, the minister of transportation of Indonesia signed an MoU agreement with the Marine Corps to work together in improving the security of the ministry's public facilities including Railway stations and Airports throughout the country by posting several military members from the Marine corps to assist the Airport police in implementing security and order.[3]
In Singapore, The Singapore Police Force (SPF) operates The Airport Police Division (APD). The APD functions as the law enforcement agency, responsible for the maintenance of law and order within its jurisdiction of, Singapore Changi Airport and Seletar Airport. SPF is also the Appropriate Authority for security at the airport. Hence, APD, as the executive arm of the Police within the airport, is responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of the National Civil Aviation Security Programme. It is to protect the security, regularity and efficiency of international civil aviation in the airport and safeguard against acts of unlawful interference aimed at passengers, personnel, aircraft, airport terminals or aircraft navigation installations and equipment.[4]
In Vietnam, each airport has its own Aviation Security Center. Each Aviation Security Center is under command of Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, which is a part of the Ministry of Transport.[8]
Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh City: Aviation Security Center of Tan Son Nhat Airport
Noi Bai Airport, Ha Noi: Aviation Security Center of Noi Bai Airport
Da Nang Airport, Dan Nang: Aviation Security Center of Da Nang Airport
In Australia, the Australian Federal Police and Border Force officers look after security of the major airports.[9]
Toronto Pearson International Airport is patrolled mainly by Peel Regional Police Airport Division officers, but are assisted by the RCMP's Toronto Airport Detachment. Before 1997 the RCMP was responsible for all policing at Pearson Airport.
In Mexico, many divisions of police provide airport security and customs duties. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) (Spanish: Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil) is the airport police division. It performs daily inspections and supervises airport facilities, aircraft, and aviation staff. The DGAC monitors compliance with rules and regulations, identification and elimination of acts, attitudes and conditions that are hazardous. They investigate airport accidents and incidents, and coordinate and implement the systems and safety procedures. The DGAC also coordinates its efforts with other federal authorities to ensure safety of the airport and flights.[13] The Federal Police (PF) (Spanish: Policía Federal) act in the customs sections, as well as providing security throughout the terminal.[14]
United States
The DFW Airport Police Department is a force of roughly 200 officers that patrols an area of more than 17,000 acres and protects more than 60 million passengers annually. They are known for top-tier SWAT, K-9/EOD, and Motorcycle units
The Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is patrolled by the Airport Unit of the Cleveland Police Department. The officers are permanently assigned to the airport, and provide a wide range of law enforcement duties and responsibilities including patrol, investigation, traffic flow management, and control and response to airport emergencies.
The City of Chicago Department of Aviation Police perform safety, security and law enforcement functions at O'Hare International Airport & Midway Airport. The department was formerly called the Department of Aviation Special Police. The Chicago Police Department Airport Unit also performs many of the law enforcement duties in and around Chicago area airports. Chicago Department of Aviation is no longer certified in law enforcement and now provides security.[15][16]
The Los Angeles Airport Police of Los Angeles, California, is the second largest airport police agency in the United States, with over 1100 personnel, including over 450 sworn officers. In addition to LAX, Airport Police members are assigned to the other airports in the Los Angeles World Airports system – Los Angeles/Ontario, Van Nuys and Los Angeles/Palmdale.[17]
The Denver International Airport is patrolled by the Denver International Airport (DIA) police bureau. The officers are permanently assigned to the airport, and provide a wide range of law enforcement duties and responsibilities including patrol, investigation, traffic flow management, and control and response to airport emergencies.
The Massachusetts State Police Troop F provide law enforcement, policing, and specialized aviation and seaport security services for all Massport properties including Boston Logan International Airport, Hanscom Field, Worcester Regional Airport, and the Massport waterfront in South Boston. Troop F is a unique entity within the Massachusetts State Police. Specialized assets provided by the members of the Massachusetts State Police Troop F include a dedicated Detective Unit, Bomb Squad, Community Services Unit, and Marine Unit. In addition, highly trained, federally certified State Police K-9 Teams are maintained on site. The smaller Massport Police Department provides physical security.
The Port Authority Police Department (PAPD), of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) protects Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport, which handle over 80 million air passengers, over 1.1 million aircraft movements, and over 2.5 million tons of air cargo annually. Police personnel cover screening points, respond to all aircraft incidents, and aid travelers from all parts of the world. Escorting and protecting visiting dignitaries is provided for on a daily basis. The PAPD also patrols the Port Authority-owned Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. Stewart International Airport, is patrolled by the New York State Police. The PAPD is also responsible for fire fighting and crash emergency rescue at the four airports and for all other aircraft emergency incidents.[19]
At Salt Lake City International Airport, the airport police are responsible for law enforcement, which includes close cooperation with various federal, state and local agencies. The department is a separate organization, exclusively serving the airport, and is not a part of The Salt Lake City Police Department, though they share some functions, such as evidence and record-keeping.[20]
[21]The Alaska International Airport System is under the jurisdiction of the Fairbanks International Airport Police and Fire Department and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Police and Fire Department. Both have dual-role officers who are responsible for law enforcement, emergency medical, and aircraft rescue firefighting responses. They are sworn law enforcement charged with enforcement of state laws, airport regulations, and investigation of aviation-related incidents in partnership with the FBI, TSA, and FAA.
In South America
In Argentina, The Airport Security Police (PSA) (Spanish: Policía de Seguridad Aeroportuaria) provides public safety on airport grounds. It is a law enforcement agency created to protect and guard national public airports. The PSA protects and ensures the internal security within the airport's jurisdiction, through prevention and investigation. Preventative airport security includes planning, implementation, evaluation and or coordination of activities and operations, at the tactical and strategical level. The PSA attempts to avert the conspiracy of complex criminal acts, including drug trafficking, terrorism, smuggling and other related crimes.[22]
In Europe
In the Czech Republic, The Police CR Provides law enforcement and Czech Airport Security Service provides Security for Airports.
In Ireland, the Airport Police Service (Irish: Póilíní an t-Aerfoirt) is a small private police force responsible for providing local policing and aviation security duties at the three state airports in Ireland: Dublin Airport, Cork Airport and Shannon Airport. Founded in 1936, they first became "Authorised Officers" in 1950. The national police, An Garda Siochana are the primary security and law enforcement agency and have a fulltime contingent stationed in the airport[24]
In Italy, The State Police Provides law enforcement and Security for Airports.
In Poland, The Policja Provides law enforcement and Polish Airport Security Service provides Security for Airports.
In Russia, The Politsiya Provides law enforcement and Security for Airports.
In Spain, The National Police and the Civil Guard Provides law enforcement and Security for Airports.
In Switzerland, The International Security Police: Airport Unit (PSI) (French: Police de la Sécurité Internationale: Unité Aéroport) performs various tasks to provide security to the airport site and safety to airport buildings. This includes, traffic management for vehicles travelling and parking on airport territory, patrol of the airport’s runways, tarmacs, and parked aircraft. Foot patrols are used to ensure the safety of airport buildings in public transit areas, and airline offices to maintain order and public safety. PSI patrols ensure the closure of areas at risk in case of parcel bombs or suspect. The unit also controls migration, through the verification of travel documents and identity documents and can issue temporary emergency passports.[25]
Airport Police Departments are represented in the United States by a membership organization called ALEAN or the Airport Law Enforcement Agencies Network.
^"Security Information". Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
^"CMPD takes over security at Charlotte Douglas International Airport". Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on 2013-07-28.
^"Ini Alasan Menhub Jonan Tempatkan Marinir di Stasiun dan Bandara (The Reason why the Transportation minister posted several Marines in Train stations and airports" (in Indonesian). detik news. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
^"SPF Overview-Airport Police Division". Singapore Police Force. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2012-12-25.