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Australian Plane Spotters On Terror Watch
AUSTRALIA could be about to engage an unusual group of frontline recruits to help guard against terrorist attacks at airports - plane spotters.Frustrated that their hobby has been hindered by increased security at airports and tired of being sneered at as anorak-wearing geeks, plane spotters - or Jetspotters, as the group in Melbourne calls itself - will meet the Australian Federal Police tonight to pitch for a formal role protecting the nation's airports. The spotters, who spend their weekends recording the registration numbers of planes, taking photos of take-offs and landings and tracking planes across the globe, say they know Australia's airports better than almost anyone and can quickly identify suspicious behaviour. David Carey, media spokesman for Jetspotters in Melbourne, said the group had about 2000 members across the country, with the largest group based in Sydney. Mr Carey said the AFP realised the potential of the group when a United Airlines flight was turned back to Sydney airport last July after a sick bag was found in the toilets with "BOB" - initially thought to stand for Bomb on Board - written on it. "We knew more about what was going on in the air than the authorities. We had pictures of the plane, everything," Mr Carey said. Mr Carey said Jetspotter members would be issued with identity cards allowing them access to some no-go areas of Melbourne airport. Stephen Reeves-Williams of the federal police posted AFP contact details on the group's website last month, encouraging Jetspotters to get in touch. "Our primary role is for the collection, initial analysis, co-ordination and dissemination of aviation-related information and intelligence at each airport," Mr Reeves-Williams wrote. "We are slowly introducing ourselves to other ... stakeholders in the wider airport community." The Australian Jetspotters plan follows a similar program in England launched last year, where plane enthusiasts at Heathrow were briefed by police, issued with security cards and encouraged to report suspicious activity. A formal role could also save the Jetspotters from suffering a similar fate to 12 British plane spotters who spent 19 days in jail in 2001 after being accused by Greek authorities of spying while photographing planes in Athens. An AFP representative will meet with the group at the Hilton Hotel at Melbourne Airport tonight to discuss their proposals. "We are constantly meeting community groups to see what support we can offer one another," a spokeswoman said. "That is why we are meeting with the Jetspotters." Posted by: Spavirt Pheng6042 2005-05-28 |
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