Airport security not tight enough

Press, 8 July 1976, Page 3

Airport security not tight enough

PA ’ Auckland] Security will be tightened at Auckland International Airport —but when is another question. It is said to be mot as tight as that at .either Christchurch or Wellington Airports. Both the chairman of the Auckland Regional Auth[ority’s airport committee '(Mr F. G. Turner) and New Zealand chief of aviation I security, Mr T. J. C. Joy, [spoke determinedly yesterday of improving the airi port’s security. , “One way or another the [necessary steps will be [taken to bring about a proper international standcard of security at Auckland,” Mr Joy said. [ “The authority is conicerned to see that it provides the maximum security that is possible.” Mr Turner said. “You can expect security at the airport to be tightened.” I Airport security has been 'brought into focus again after an incident in which a man was able to ram a parked lairliner with an airline service vehicle.

And it was highlighted again yesterday by a newspaper report that pistols, revolvers, sawn-off shotguns and rifles, ammunition, flick knives, daggers, and dangerous chemicals were being found in “great quantities” in the cabin baggage of passengers flying out of the airport.

However, Air New Zealand, which operates the largest ■ number of international flights in and out of Auckland, last night questioned the report.

“We do not believe that these items have been detected in the volumes suggested,” a spokesman said. “In our experience there [has not been one instance in [the past year of ammunition, [firearms or other weapons

(being detected that were for ! any other use than sporting or for similar purposes.” The Labour Government [wanted to create an airport security force but the legislation was not introduced ; before the change of Government. Mr Joy said that : security at Auckland was

[“not all that lax” but he said ; it was not as tight as at either [Wellington or Christchurch International Airports. Security at Auckland was [a “definite problem” he said, lit was the country’s largest | international airport and ; security arrangements gave I cause for concern.