The association representing the police force at Belfast International Airport has plans to introduce cuts to the workforce at Belfast International Airport will leave it exposed to terrorist attacks.
The Belfast Airport Police Association (BAPA) has alleged profits are being put before safety as plans revealed today show the intent to reduce the constabulary's strength by a third from 43 to 28 officers.
A dossier compiled by the Associtation also made a series of allegations over lax security issues. It claimed:
- Guests of senior management were admitted to the Air Traffic Control Tower without proper identification.
- Plans were drawn up to provide new recruits with a training programme lasting just two weeks.
- Firearm retraining guidelines were flouted.
The authorities tonight hit back at the allegations and insisted the job cuts were approved by the British government after a review found less need for armed guards.
A BIA spokesman said: "The diminished requirement for an armed police force at certain locations in the airport, and the associated replacement with unarmed civilian security guards, is part of the normalisation and change process towards policing in Northern Ireland."
Even though other security guards will be drafted in, BAPA insisted it was wrong to cut back at a time when the threat level for civil aviation throughout the UK has been increased to severe general.