With Australia’s border again open, the Australian Federal Police is asking for support from the public and aviation workers to keep the aviation network safe.
The AFP’s Airport Watch program operates across nine major airports – Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney – and aims to educate those working in and travelling through airports about what activity is suspicious and how to report it to authorities.
AFP Specialist Protective Command Commander Alison Wegg said as domestic and international travel rebounds from the impact of COVID-19, there was also the potential for growth in crime through the aviation environment – such as drug importations, illicit cash smuggling and human trafficking
“Airport Watch engages the community as ‘the eyes and ears’ within the aviation environment,” Commander Wegg said.
“The public plays a critical role to help police and the Aviation industry detect, resolve and deter criminal activity or aviation-based terrorist attacks by reporting suspicious activity.
Suspicious activity or unusual behavior includes:
- A person observed displaying an unusually keen interest in security procedures;
- A person observed recording or taking photos in or around sensitive areas of the airport;
- Anyone acting strangely or in an unusual manner;
- Anyone heard asking questions to gain information about the airport; and
- Anyone trying to gain unauthorised access to secure areas.
Airport Watch complements the AFP’s other capabilities, which include community policing and counter terrorist first responders, joint intelligence teams and joint investigation teams, bomb appraisal officers and firearms and explosives detection canines.
Airport Watch, first launched in 2012, offers a hotline (131 AFP) for reporting unusual and concerning behaviour.
For more details on the suspicious behaviour to look out for, visit the Airport Watch page.
