Additional police for Gold Coast Airport

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) will today officially launch its community policing presence at Gold Coast Airport by welcoming seven new officers to its ranks.

The Queensland Police Service officers join the AFP on secondment for two years, fulfilling the role of Airport Uniformed Police.

They bring to 10 the number of AFP officers who will provide a 24-hour policing presence at the busy airport in addition to other AFP resources.

Gold Coast Airport Police Commander Paul Jones said the new officers would deter criminality at the airport by providing a stronger community policing presence.

“The AUP provide the travelling public and airport community a dedicated and first response to policing issues at Gold Coast Airport," Superintendent Jones said.

The AFP now has Airport Uniformed Police at 11 Australian airports, including Brisbane and Cairns, responding to general policing issues, looking after border security, carrying out criminal investigations and providing support to the AFP's Counter Terrorist First Response (CTFR) units.

"As the amount of traffic through Australia's airports increases, these additional resources will help to improve security and provide a highly visible police presence," Superintendent Jones said.

The Airport Uniformed Police are a crucial part of the Federal Government's Unified Policing Model (UPM), established with the support of the Council of Australian Governments after the 2005 Wheeler Review into airport security and policing.

Tomorrow's launch will provide an opportunity for the media to see the UPM in action and meet with the officers who will be providing community policing services at Gold Coast Airport.

MEDIA EVENT

Where: Gold Coast Airport – Building F Unit 17 Airport Central, Eastern Avenue, Bilinga 

When: 10am Monday 21 April 2008

(Note: media will be able to take footage of AUP officers at work)