Airport watch - Adelaide trial

[Bob C]

Whilst browsing through a few sites this morning I found this
interesting piece of information on http://www.5dme.net/

"......Airport Watch - Adelaide Trial


19th April 2010. Today 5DME attended the launch of a Neigbourhood
Watch style scheme called AIRPORT WATCH which is to be trialled at
Adelaide Airport. The programme involves airport staff, airlines,
crews, retailers and others operating from airport grounds
participating by reporting suspicious activity.

The OTS (Office of Transport Safety) in collaboration with the
Australian Federal Police, SA Police and AAL have developed the
scheme. Adelaide Airport has stepped forward to be the trial host.

Adelaide Airport on any given day has 10,000 staff/workers in
attendance from the various operators, contractors and services.
That's 10,000 pairs of ears & eyes that could possibly report out-of-
the ordinary activities.

Airport Watch seeks to strengthen the security culture by involving
the airport community. Incidents that might usually go unreported
might now be reported due to the awareness Airport Watch will bring to
the aviation community.

The idea being: If you see something suspicious, REPORT IT.

If you see something suspicious you are urged to call 131 AFP (131
237)

A point to remember:

What makes a person suspicious is not the colour of their skin, their
ethnic culture, or their gender. It is what they do, where they are,
how they are behaving.

Once the trial is completed Airport Watch is likely to be introduced
at a number of Australian airports........"

It's interesting to note that only those working at the airport appear
to be involved and I wonder how widely " suspicious activity" will be
defined. No mention made of visitors to the airport being involved.

And I would have thought that it went without saying that anybody
working at an airport would have the sense to report any suspicious
activity long before now and even PRIOR to September 11.

It will be interesting to see how this develops across the country.