The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has rebooted its Airport Watch program across nine major airports to coincide with the increase in domestic travel.
AFP Specialist Protective Command, Commander Linda Champion said increased domestic travel brought with it the potential for growth in crime throughout the aviation environment.
Commander Champion said it was an ideal time to revive and strengthen security measures at Australia’s nine designated airports.
“The public plays a critical role working with police every day to keep their communities safe; the aviation environment is no different,” Commander Champion said.
“We are calling on the travelling public to keep their eyes and ears open as they embark on domestic travel over the coming year,” she said.
“Due to COVID-19 significantly disrupting both the aviation industry, we believe it is important to prevent any attempts by criminals to exploit the disruption to their own criminal ends.”
Commander Champion said aviation industry staff and the public could make meaningful contributions to the prevention of such exploitation.
“Airport Watch aims to educate those working in and traveling through major airports about what should be reported and how,” she said.
“It will work by establishing and building on pre-existing relationships with stakeholders but also place an emphasis on engagement with the public.”
She said aviation staff, retail employees as well as others at Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney airports would receive training and educational resources.
“Our message is: if you see or hear something unusual while working at or travelling through one of our major airports, please call the AFP’s Airport Watch on 131 237 – it might just prevent a crime and bring perpetrators to the attention of authorities,” Commander Champion said.
