Companies Rewarded For Their Commitment, Exceptional Contributions To Airport Security

Biggin HIll Helicopters, Transcity Exhibitions and Tropair Services are the first winners of the new security-conscious awards scheme launched by the London Biggin Hill Executive Airport. They each received certificates from Chief Superintendent Martin Greenslade, Metropolitan Police Commander for the Borough of Bromley at a special ceremony on Wednesday, March 2.

Airport companies at Biggin Hill play a key role in MATRA  - Multi Agency Threat and Risk Assessment - a new government-backed security initiative. It brings together all key stake holders including Bromley Police, the Immigration Service, Customs & Excise, MPS Special Branch, the Department for Transport, Home Office and Airport Security to share information and expertise from their areas of operation. Biggin Hill's MATRA steering group first met in February of 2004 with the first tenant meeting also held in February. Since then there have been security workshops, risk assessments and information sharing among the many companies on site.

"As the Chair of the MATRA initiative at Biggin Hill Airport, I am immensely pleased that we are recognizing the commitment of these three companies one year on from the launch of this scheme," said Chief Inspector Matt Bell of Bromley Police. "With tenants and users of the Airport, we have been able to identify areas for development and make improvements. This has benefited everyone who uses or operates a business on the Airport, and I encourage everyone with an interest in making Biggin Hill Airport safer and more prosperous to join with us in 2005."

Phil Spurgin, Head of Safety and Security at Biggin Hill Airport said: "The winners have had a considerable input into the overall London Biggin Hill MATRA process, contributing in excess of mandatory security requirements in some areas. But above all their input was supportive and continuous."

MATRA grew out of a review carried out by Sir John Wheeler in 2002 of airport security in the UK, following the events of 9/11. One of his recommendations was that all key stake holders within an airport/aviation environment should share information on vulnerability, threat and risks associated with their area of involvement.

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