Luton Airport 'didn't want any policing at all during Covid-19 lockdown'

Bedfordshire Police insisted a security presence was still necessary at an airport for the benefit of staff employed there.

Recruiting and training costs of officers to police the airport still have to be accounted for, Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel was told.

Conservative Arlesey councillor Ian Dalgarno said: “I know London Luton Airport pays the cost of policing at the airport.

“But I would assume that would be on a fixed-term cost annually, not based around the number of people going through the airport.

“So why’s there a reduced income for policing Luton Airport?” he asked.

Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Kathryn Holloway replied: “Initially the airport didn’t want any policing at all during lockdown.

“But Bedfordshire Police pointed out that it’s necessary to maintain security at an airport, for the safety of those who’re still working there.

“So they would need to have some officers within the airport.

“We have our armed response unit based there, which is useful for us in the circumstances of Covid to have that airport section released for wider use across the county.

“But we receive revenue, with total cost recovery, for all of the policing at the airport, including all that armed response.

“It represents a significant hole if the airport’s not going ahead with it at the former and agreed level.

“We have recruited and trained individuals to be available,” she explained.

“Luton started operating flights to Europe far earlier than many other airports around the country.

“The airport has had some element of police cover throughout, but has told us it didn’t require the police cover we’d agreed to provide.

“It’s the difference between the two, that gap, which means there’s a shortfall in the revenue which would be earned.”

Councillor Dalgarno, who chairs the panel, said: “It doesn’t strike me as being a very solid agreement in terms of the operational costs.

“The officers you recruited are trained on a basis that budget is coming from the airport.

“All of a sudden that disappears and the rest of the community is picking up the bill for that.”

The PCC said: “I would agree with this, and we were right on the point of arbitration over negotiating our next contract with the airport at the time when Covid struck.

“We were unhappy about certain elements of the agreement of the past.”

Independent panel member Paul Cain said: “You’re showing a budget overspend likely to be £3.3m this year.

“About £1m is what you’ve spent on personal protective equipment (PPE) and £1.6m on Luton Airport.

“Are the government looking at special grant to cover Covid?”

The PCC responded: “We already know the PPE spend on policing will be reimbursed in full.

“You point to the lost revenue from airports. Policing minister Kit Malthouse is very well aware of it.

“And it would be quite wrong of me to talk about the confidential discussion he’s had with us there, but the government is absolutely aware of it.

“That overspend is almost exactly the equivalent of the special grant of £3.43m I have in as a bid to the Home Office.

“I have yet an ambition to balance the books.”