Police tackle drunk flyers

OFFICERS at East Midlands Airport have been working closely with the airport operator and airlines to address disruptive passengers.

About 4.7 million passengers pass through the terminal annually and the team has focused on drunk passengers, advising them at an early stage that they risk being refused on the aircraft if they are deemed unfit to fly.

Sergeant Rachel Fowkes from the Police Aviation Team said: “No one wants a passenger to not be allowed on their flight. However, being drunk on board an aircraft is a criminal offence and can have serious safety implications.”

In a new initiative police have also been using a passive drugs dog to detect passengers who may be in possession of illegal drugs.

Phillip Morris, operations director at East Midlands Airport said: “While incidents of passengers being disruptive are rare we fully support any action taken by the police to reduce them even further.

“It is important to us that every passenger has the best possible start to their journey, we have invested in new bars, restaurants and shops for everyone to enjoy.

“As we head into the busy summer season, we ask all passengers to arrive in plenty of time and ensure that they are fully aware of the current security requirements.”