London City Airport in talks over policing costs
23.09.07
Talks are taking place between the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) and London City Airport over who should pay for the cost of policing the docklands airport. Discussions took place last week and more are planned as the two sides hope to reach agreement before a November deadline.
London City Airport, along with most smaller UK airports, currently pays nothing towards the cost of policing, while bigger airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick pay a percentage. The £7million annual bill for policing the airport is met by the Metropolitan Police Service, and ultimately paid for by London's taxpayers.
The MPA wants all airports across the country to pay the costs of policing them and is holding meetings nationwide. However, doubts have been raised over whether the November deadline can be met. Recently, MPA member Richard Barnes warned vague legislation means joint agreements may not be agreed.
Mr. Barnes said: 'There appears to be no common approach to the extent to which operators contribute to policing costs and too many different interpretations of requirements under current legislation. Police have to provide a service to protect all those who use our airports, and it is unfair to expect them to pay for policing private, moneymaking businesses.'
'At the end of the day, it is the taxpayer who pays, while shareholders earn dividends. This can be tolerated no longer.'
If an agreement cannot be reached between the police authority and the airport by the end of November then the secretary of state for transport, Ruth Kelly, will have to step in. An airport spokeswoman declined to comment while talks are in progress.
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