South Wales Police have recently launched an airport watch scheme at Cardiff Airport for plane spotters and aviation enthusiasts.
Cardiff Airport Watch allows local plane spotters and regular visitors to the airport to become a reliable source of information about goings on outside of the fence and help to boost security by keeping extra eyes on the perimeter, in the same way as a neighbourhood watch scheme works to help communities be safer.
It also promotes closer ties between those involved in airport security and the aviation enthusiasts community.
Members of the scheme agree to report suspicious activity, drone or laser pen use and in return enthusiasts get a membership card showing direct contact numbers and a car sticker after registering their personal and vehicle details for vetting with South Wales Police’s Airport Policing Group.
A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “The recently launched Cardiff Airport Watch initiative is a membership scheme for aviation enthusiasts run by the Airport Policing Group and the Safer Vale Partnership.
“The purpose behind the scheme is to help prevent crime by asking its members to look out for anything out of the ordinary and to contact the police if they see anything suspicious. Members will be urged to report on the use of drones and laser pens. They will also be asked to report any obstruction to the emergency gates on the airport perimeter.
“The scheme works by providing members with a membership card so they can easily be identified by police and security teams at the airport.
“Cardiff Airport Watch is aimed at local aviation enthusiasts who regularly visit the airport and sets out to create closer co-operation between the Airport Policing Group and the aviation enthusiasts, to enable bona-fide enthusiasts to be easily identified and to provide a reliable source of information and intelligence.
“Members of Cardiff Airport Watch will also be encouraged to reporting the use of drones and laser pens as well as any obstruction to the emergency gates on the airport perimeter.”
Those interested in the scheme should send an email to [email protected] for more information.
