Police and Border Force visit Kent airports as part of counter-terrorism operation
09:42, 11 July 2019
updated: 09:23, 12 July 2019
Airports across Kent have been visited by police as part of an operation to prevent terrorism.
They teamed up with Border Force to raise awareness of what can be done to prevent offences aviation sites can be vulnerable to like human trafficking or drugs and firearms smuggling.
Officers went to Rochester, Lydd, Headcorn and seven other smaller airfields during the week-long campaign.
13 aircraft were screened, but no concerns were identified.
Ports co-ordinator Nick Reed said: "Kent is the gateway to Europe and welcomes large numbers of visitors by land, sea and air on a daily basis.
"It is therefore important that the people who work at our ports can spot the signs of criminality and raise any concerns with us.
"Our presence at the airports was well received and it was beneficial to be able to share our knowledge with those who come into contact with aircraft pilots on a daily basis."
He added: "While the vast majority of people who travel into Kent by air are law-abiding citizens, there are also a minority who will see an aeroplane or helicopter as a means by which they can commit crime.
"Criminality can support and fund terrorism, which is why operations such as this are so important and will be repeated again in the future."
Anyone with information about suspicious activity around airfields is encourage to report it at www.gov.uk/report-border-crime or by calling Kent Police on 101.
