EU to create network of airport law enforcement services

Council of the European Union announced (02-Dec-2010) the adoption of plans to create a European network of airport law enforcement services (AIRPOL). AIRPOL will be a permanent and multidisciplinary cooperation network of the police services, border guards and other relevant law enforcement services which are active in and around airports with the mission of "contributing substantially to increasing security in the airports of the Member States of the European Union and of the Schengen Associated States, to combating criminal activities in and around airports and to other aspects relating to civil aviation security". AIRPOL will focus on three areas:

• Airport policing: Aimed at the policing in and around airports, for instance, airport crime, VIP protection, public order tactics, protection of critical infrastructure and contingency management;
• Aviation Security: Aimed at civil aviation security, for instance, passengers engaging in unseemly behaviour, access and security checks, airport badge management and air marshals;
• Air Border Security: Border management activities and facing the phenomenon of illegal migration. [more]

EU Interior Ministers welcomed the creation of the permanent cooperation network (KUNA, 02-Dec-2010).