Aviation Security Operational Command Unit

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The Aviation Security Operational Command Unit (SO18) is a Specialist Operations unit of the London Metropolitan Police that provides policing and security for both Heathrow and London City airports. London's other airports, Gatwick and Stansted, are policed by the Sussex Police and the Essex Police respectively, as they are not actually located in the Greater London area or the Metropolitan Police District.

[edit] History

Policing at Heathrow was initially undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority. In 1965, the responsibility was taken over by the British Airports Authority Constabulary, which subsequently passed to the Metropolitan Police on 1 November 1974 as a consequence of the Policing of Airports Act 1974.

Policing of London City Airport has always been undertaken by the Metropolitan Police, with Aviation Security acquiring the remit from local officers during 2004.

[edit] Policing today

The unit employs around 400 police officers, the vast majority of whom are armed. As well as dealing with routine policing incidents, Aviation Security must always guard against terrorism and be ready to respond to an aircraft emergency. Human trafficking is another area policed with close working relationships existing with the Immigration service. Traffic wardens and Police Community Support Officers work at both airports.

In 2005 the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, announced that Specialist Operations units were to be re-aligned. The plans included forming 3 new departments within Specialist Operations to carry out specific functions:

Protecting People, (Splitting the functions of both SO14 & SO16 and merging them with parts of SO17, SO18 and SO12)
Protecting Places, (Splitting the functions of both SO14 & SO16 and merging them with parts of SO17 and SO18)
Counter Terrorism Command (Merging SO12 & SO13 together)