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 talks are planned as the two sides hope to reach agreement before a November deadline.
London City, along with most smaller UK airports, currently pay nothing towards the cost of policing. The £7million annual bill is met by the Metropolitan Police Service and, ultimately, paid for by London's taxpayers.
The MPA wants all airports to pay their policing costs and is holding meetings nationwide. However, doubts have been raised over whether a November deadline to reach agreements can be met. Recently, MPA member Richard Barnes warned vague legislation means joint agreements may not be possible.
Mr. Barnes said: 'There appears to be no common approach to the extent to which operators contribute to policing costs and there are 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's the taxpayer who pays, while shareholders earn dividends. This can no longer be tolerated.'
If an agreement cannot be reached between the police authority and the airport by the end of November, the secretary of state for transport, Ruth Kelly, will have to step in. An airport spokesman declined to comment while talks are in progress.
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