JUSTICE SECRETARY MICHAEL MATHESON HELPS LAUNCH GLASGOW AIRPORT’S 2017 CAMPUS WATCH INITIATIVE
Airport’s industry-leading approach to tackling disruptive behaviour now in its fourth year
Cabinet Secretary for Justice Michael Matheson today visited Glasgow Airport to help launch this year’s Campus Watch drive ahead of the 2017 summer season.
The Justice Secretary was briefed on Glasgow’s successful Campus Watch programme by members of the senior management team and representatives from Police Scotland who are based at the airport.
Campus Watch was introduced in 2013 in partnership with Police Scotland to tackle disruptive behaviour at Glasgow Airport and provides training, advice and support to staff who interact with passengers on a daily basis. This includes check-in staff, security teams, bar and restaurant employees, retailers and airline crews.
One of the key aims of the initiative is early intervention. Staff across the campus are encouraged to report the details of any potential incident of disruptive behaviour to the airport’s central control room through a dedicated phone number printed on each employee’s ID badge.
This information, including passenger description and travel details, is shared with staff across the airport campus via a rapid text alert system.
Disruptive behaviour covers a broad range of offences, but if the incident is alcohol related the passenger involved will be refused service across all retail outlets and gate staff will be notified in advance.
Glasgow Airport managing director Amanda McMillan said: “For many of our passengers, their holiday begins the moment they arrive at the airport and we want them to continue to enjoy a memorable but ultimately safe and disruption-free experience.
“Our Campus Watch initiative ensures we work closely on a daily basis with our airline partners, retailers, caterers and Police Scotland representatives by taking a rigorous and proactive approach to address and often pre-empt incidents of disruptive behaviour at the airport.
“It’s important to stress that the vast majority of people travelling through the airport do so responsibly, and that instances of disruptive behaviour are extremely rare. In 2016 we carried a record 9.4 million passengers and during this time our staff and partners dealt with 125 incidents of disruptive behaviour involving alcohol.