Gatwick Airport passenger warning as police launch summer crackdown on 'disruptive' behaviour

One of Britain’s main airports is ‘cracking down’ on disruptive behaviour on flights and in terminals as the number of incidents rises.

On Wednesday, Gatwick Airport in Sussex launched its new plans, aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour caused by drunk passengers on flights.

In conjunction with Sussex Police, the airport launched Project Disrupt, committed to reducing the number of disruptive passenger incidents.

When incidents happen they can cause severe delays to other passengers’ travel plans - sometimes resulting in cancelled or delayed flights.

The measures state any individual convicted of being drunk on board an aircraft could face a maximum fine of £5,000 and two years in prison.

Offenders may be ordered to reimburse an airline in the event of a diverted or cancelled flight.

Sussex Police will make regular patrols of the airport as part of Project Disrupt, while it also encourages airport staff, security and shop workers to be vigilant against drunk and disorderly behaviour.

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The new initiative comes in time for the peak holiday season, where a large amount of passengers will be jetting off to various holiday destinations around the world from the main London airport.

Passengers are being reminded to ‘behave responsibly and fly responsibly’

Reported incidents of disorderly behaviour are comparatively rare at the airport, with a total of 379 incidents of disruption reported to police during summer in 2018.

Of that figure, 77 passengers were denied from boarding their flights, while 56 were arrested for offences including being drunk and disorderly (before getting on board an aircraft), being drunk on board an aircraft, and assault and endangering an aircraft.

The figures show an increase of 48 incidents since 2017.

Gatwick say this ‘proactive’ approach is designed at tackling the root source of problems and and to engage with passengers at an early stage.

The airport is also introducing had held devices for recording incidents ion a streamlined process dedicated to dealing with problems before they escalate.

Gatwick Prevention Team Inspector James Biggs said: ‘While the vast majority of passengers are well-behaved, and travel through the airport and arrive at their destination without a problem, there is a very small minority who ruin it for themselves and for others.

‘By engaging with passengers at the earliest opportunity – through patrols, face to face contact by Police and airport staff and the distribution of posters and leaflets – we are making them fully aware of the rules and their own responsibility.

‘Passengers could be refused carriage if they are considered to be drunk, disorderly or disruptive.

‘We are not out there with the intention to arrest people or ruin their holiday; we want all passengers to travel through Gatwick safely and smoothly.

‘We are fully committed to working with Gatwick Airport to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.’

Echoing Inspector Briggs’ comments, head of operations at Gatwick, Nikki Barton, said: ‘Only a tiny minority of Gatwick’s 46 million annual passengers are disruptive, but we are determined to do what we can to stamp out this sort of behaviour.

‘A range of measures including working collaboratively with our airlines and the police to encourage early reporting and targeted intervention appear to be working.

‘We are, however, introducing further measures to prevent more serious incidents of disruptive behaviour from occurring on board aircraft, and this year a new streamlined reporting and recording process should help us to respond and deal with incidents as they occur on the airport.

‘It remains vital that the public are aware of the serious consequences of being disruptive while at an airport or on an aircraft.’