The AFP is the lead police agency at Sydney and eight other airports. File photo: ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
An assault on airline crew and two police officers was one callout among 217 at airports that federal police attended over the Easter holidays.
The Australian Federal Police were cracking down on bad behaviour at the nine airports where they are the lead law enforcement agency: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
For earlier story, click on the following: AFP message for Easter travellers
From April 18-21, the 217 callouts included three people who were charged at Adelaide, Sydney and Canberra airports with criminal offences and 10 people given official cautions.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Angy Polic said they were prepared for a big increase in travellers at airports and potential challenges involved with that.
“Our officers dealt with a range of matters from individuals in possession of prohibited items to aggressive passengers failing to comply with safety requirements,” acting supt Polic said.
“We are here to protect the travelling public. We won’t hesitate to act when disruptive or violent behaviour crosses a line.”
She said “the AFP will not tolerate” behaviour that can lead to criminal charges, significant fines, travel bans or imprisonment.
“If you are abusive or demonstrate violent, criminal behaviour at airport terminals or during a flight – you will be stopped before boarding or removed from your flight.
“Your holiday will be cancelled, and your next destination will likely to be a police station or courtroom,” she said.
SPECIFIC INCIDENTS
The AFP say an Adelaide man, 27, is due to appear in Adelaide Magistrate’s Court on June 10 over threats to kill two security guards, and an assault, in the Adelaide Airport security screening area on April 17.
He was charged with two counts of threatening to kill a person, one count of assault causing harm and entering a security zone without clearance.
On April 21, a WA woman, 44, was charged for allegedly assaulting federal officers and airline crew members on a flight from New Zealand to Australia, the AFP says.
Police allege the woman became physically and verbally abusive towards airline staff on the flight after they spoke to her repeatedly about her behaviour.
When staff called for AFP help to remove her from the aircraft at Sydney Airport, she refused to obey them and physically assaulted the officers, the AFP said.
She appeared in Downing Centre Local Court on April 22 and is due to re-appear in court in June, police said.
If you require police at an airport, want to report an incident or provide information, please call the AFP’s Airport Watch on 131 AFP (131 237).
