Regolamentazione spotters a LHR

[malpensante]

Il forumista commuter ha lodevolmente chiesto e ottenuto dalle Autorità britanniche ogni informazione sulla regolamentazione dello spotting. Riporto qui le mail che mi ha inoltrato e il file della Polizia. Gli faccio i miei complimenti e lo ringrazio. Spero di poterne parlare presto con qualche responsabile di importante aeroporto.

Dear Mr. Baird,
I’m an aviation enthusiast and aircraft spotter, and I’m a member of an Italian spotters association called AviazioneCivile.it
Through the organization’s representatives, we are trying to change the Italian’s Civil Aviation Authority mindset with regards to spotters, who are very often seen as an hazard and on some civil airport are pursued as criminal and sent out of the way.
In order to proceed with our idea we would like to know if there is any written document regulating spotters activities at civil aerodromes in UK, and if any exist if it is possible to have a copy to refer to when discussing with above mentioned authorities.
Waiting for your kind reply, will you please accept my best regards

ER

Dear Enrico,

Thank you for your message. I'm sorry to hear that you do not have the recognition from the police that you would like in Italy. It was a similar issue here at Heathrow a few years ago for spotters. There is no such regulatory document to my knowledge. However, you may suggest that a scheme similar to mine may be a good idea. I have taken the view that spotters are a valuable asset as extra eyes and ears around the airport perimeters and a good source of aviation information. Fortunately I have been able to convince my senior management of the value of setting up a scheme specific to Heathrow Police. I attach further information on the scheme on this document. There are other similar schemes at Gatwick and Luton airports and British Transport Police who cover the entire train network of England and Wales are also looking to set up a similar scheme. Each scheme is specific to each police force and will have different requirements to join.

Enthusiasts wishing to join the Heathrow scheme will complete the application form and submit it to me with a copy of their photo and details pages of their passport. I then conduct various security checks on police databases. Depending on the result of those checks, I will then approve membership and request a photo and payment of £7.50 to cover the cost of producing an identity card http://www.met.police.uk/heathrow/documents/Aviation%20card%20and%20lanyard.pdf similar in shape and size to airport workers at Heathrow. Once issued with the card they are asked to wear the bright yellow lanyard which I supply on the outside of their clothing so that security at the airport can recognise them as they drive past. Spotters with this card have no extra access to the airport than a normal member of the public, but officers here know that people with these cards have been security checked to a high level and want to help police.

The scheme has also set up specific channels of communication for spotters to pass information back to the police.

I have further documents relating to my proposal to set the scheme up which I am happy to share with police in Italy to explain how my scheme works. There has been interest in the scheme from police in many countries including France, Australia, USA and Norway.

I wish you luck.

Regards,

Martin Baird| PS 22ID| Safer Airport Team Terminal 3
AddressHeathrow Police Station, Polar Park
West Drayton, Hillingdon, UB7 0DG
MetPhone711362 | Telephone 020-3276-1362Mobile |07768 670792
Email martin.baird@met.police.uk

HEATHROW AVIATION ENTHUSIAST SCHEME


This is a scheme set up by Heathrow Police in partnership with BAA, designed to recognise the valuable role Aviation Enthusiasts can play in helping to combat terrorism and crime at Heathrow and London City, as additional eyes and ears of the police and airport community. The scheme is run from Heathrow but has a representative at both airports - Sergeant Martin Baird at LHR and PCSO Peter Sharp at LCY.

We would particularly welcome applications from the enthusiasts who visit either airport on a regular basis, as they are more likely to notice something or someone out of the ordinary on or around the airfield. However, all enthusiasts are welcome to apply.

Membership will provide you with an identity card and a specially designed lanyard and card holder similar to that of airport workers, which we would ask you to wear when engaged in your hobby at Heathrow or London City Airport. It will allow you to be easily identified by police and security as a potentially valuable source of information. The card will not give you any additional rights over members of the public, but will show your commitment to helping us protect the airport from criminality and the constant terrorist threat.

Since its launch on 24th November 2008 we have received over 470 applications. We now have to make a one-off charge of £7.50 to cover the cost of production of any new cards and lanyards and postage.

We hope the scheme will enable us to have regular contact with yourselves, as well as giving you a contact point to pass on any information you may have or report anything suspicious.

Please use the application form on the reverse of this letter or go to www.airportcommunity.org and follow the link to Safer Airports Team (SAT) to download an application form (search the word “scheme”). Alternatively you can e-mail Sgt Martin Baird at heathrow.watch@met.police.uk for further information.

We look forward to hearing from you.



PS 22ID Martin Baird & PCSO 8103ID Peter Sharp

-----------------------------------------------------------

Heathrow Aviation Enthusiast scheme application ​

If you would like to become a member of the Heathrow Aviation Enthusiast membership scheme in partnership with Heathrow Police, please take the time to complete the form below. Please also send a clear photocopy of your passport page containing your photo and personal details. We will then be able to process your application. Please be aware that the process can take several weeks. We will write to let you know whether your application has been accepted. If it is accepted, we will then ask you to supply two recent passport sized photographs of yourself for your card, along with the £7.50 fee.

Please complete and post with passport photocopy to:
Sergeant Martin Baird
Heathrow Aviation Enthusiast scheme,
Heathrow Airport Police Station
East Ramp
Heathrow Airport
TW6 2DJ

Full name:
Date of birth:
Place of birth:
Full UK address:

Post code:
E-mail address:
Contact telephone:
Add my mobile to the text alert database Yes/No


This information will be held by the Safer Airport Team, Heathrow Airport, Metropolitan Police for the Commissioner who is identified as the Data Controller. All information will be processed in compliance with priciples of the Data Protection Act 1998 and will not be disclosed to any third party unless required by law. The information will be used to create a database of interested parties with a view to issuing a membership card subject to accreditation, to allow us to contact you as a member with information, and also to give you contact with the Safer Airport Team. As part of the accreditation process, your details may be checked on other systems held by the Metropolitan Police and the Border and Immigration Agency. In the event that you wish to cancel your membership or there is insufficient interest to start an Aviation Enthusiast scheme, then this record will be destroyed.
I agree to my details being held by the Metropolitan Police as described above.

Signature:
Date:

 

[Sal73x]

Grazie mille, molto interessante.
Mi sembra un'ottima iniziativa che facilita le cose e aiuta entrambe le parti.

Anche a MAN (EGCC) non vi e' alcun problema o limitazione per gli spotters.
Anzi, a EGCB (City Airport Manchester o Barton Aerodrome) si ha la possibilita' di firmare un registro
negli uffici alla base della TWR che permette l'accesso alla parte "apron" per gli spotters (muniti di High-Vis).

 

[ITALYAIRPORT]

Ottimo Che l'Italia còpi!!

 

[andreadc6]

Ottimo Che l'Italia còpi!!

la vedo dura! come al solito sbatteremo il muso davanti a qualche funzionario che non interessa nulla di ciò che avviene all'esterno del suo oriticello
ciao
andrea

 

[MalboroLi]

come al solito Albione ci sorpassa ancora una volta di varie miglia...che qualcuno in Italia leggesse e ne facesse tesoro...l'ultima volta che ho fatto una foto a VCE mi sono trovato un poliziotto che mi ha chiesto di cancellare le foto...vergogna...