Airports are always busy places, and for many, travel is a stressful experience. Easter proved particularly taxing, with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) called out to 217 incidents across the nine airports at which it is the lead law enforcement agency—Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
The incidents included allegedly drunk and disruptive passengers, possession of prohibited items and illicit drugs, and breaches of airport security protocols.
That’s despite the AFP increasing high-visibility patrols throughout terminals from April 18 to 21 in an attempt to deter any criminal or disruptive behaviour, and to swiftly respond if it occurred.
Three people were charged at airports in Adelaide, Sydney, and Canberra with criminal offences, and 10 people were issued with official police cautions for minor offences.
At the serious end of the scale, a 27-year-old Adelaide man allegedly threatened two security guards and then assaulted one of them at the Adelaide Airport security screening area on April 17.
He was arrested and charged with two counts of threatening to kill a person at a Commonwealth aerodrome, one count of assault causing harm, and one count of entering a landside security zone of a security-controlled airport without permission. He was granted bail and is expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on June 10.
A Western Australian woman, 44, also faces multiple charges, including assault, after allegedly bashing AFP officers and airline crew members on a flight from New Zealand to Australia on April 21.
Police allege she became physically and verbally abusive towards staff on the flight after they spoke to her several times about her inappropriate, disruptive and antisocial behaviour.
When the AFP showed up to remove the woman from the aircraft on its arrival at Sydney Airport, they claimed she didn’t comply with instructions and physically assaulted the officers.
Detective Acting Superintendent Angy Polic said the police had prepared for the significant increase in the number of travellers through airports and the potential challenges that came with them.
“Our officers dealt with a range of matters from individuals in possession of prohibited items to aggressive passengers failing to comply with safety requirements,” she said.
“We are here to protect the travelling public, and we won’t hesitate to act when disruptive or violent behaviour crosses a line.
“Although most travellers behaved appropriately, there is always a small number of individuals who will put the safety and security of others at risk. The AFP will not tolerate disruptive or inappropriate behaviour, which can lead to serious consequences such as criminal charges, significant fines, travel bans or imprisonment.
The AFP said people who demonstrate violent, criminal behaviour will be stopped before boarding or removed from the flight.
“Your holiday will be cancelled, and your next destination will likely to be a police station or courtroom.”
