Scotland Police Want BAA To Pay More Of The Bill

Thanks to the increased terror threat, the cost of security at BAA Edinburgh Airport is growing rapidly. So far, it has left local police forces, which provide all of the airport security, with a $2.3 million bill.

Anti-terror measures as well as an increasing number of passengers have contributed to soaring security costs since 2001.

In 2005-2006, BAA contributed about 75 percent of the almost $3,538,000 security costs, according to the Edinburgh Evening News... but frustrations continue to mount by local police chiefs at the huge drain on their resources. Some are already in discussions with BAA about the airport assuming a much larger share of the costs.

Police departments Lothian and Borders Police have been stuck with a bill of around $786,000 a year for the past three years.

Airport officials say they contribute to security costs "directly and indirectly through business rates." Airports are required by law to contribute towards policing costs, but there are no specific rules on how exactly much they pay. Heathrow, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Prestwick, Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham and Manchester are also required to contribute to policing costs under the Civil Aviation Act 1982.

City council and police board member Marilyne MacLaren believes BAA should be paying more, citing BAA's 2005-2006 profits of around $61 million.

"BAA makes a lot of money out of operating the airport, and the effective policing provided is definitely a contributing factor in this," MacLaren said. "There is a balance to be struck in terms of the statutory duty of protecting the public, but the fact is that BAA is a commercial enterprise. The force does appear to have been getting a raw deal under the current arrangements."

"It is a tremendous drain on resources," she added.

Although individual police forces have the final say on what resources are put into the airport, the amounts are based on government advice.

A police spokeswoman said: "We are working closely with BAA regarding the funding of policing at Edinburgh airport."

FMI: www.edinburghairport.com/