Welcome to Heathrow Aviation Security

Heathrow Airport and London City Airport are policed by a MPS Operational Command Unit (OCU) known as Aviation Security.

Aviation Security is located at Heathrow Airport and has a sub command based at North Woolwich Police Station covering London City Airport. There is a shared command and control facility, operating from Heathrow police station.

Heathrow Airport is located within the London borough of Hillingdon and is one of seven airports owned by the BAA. It is one of the busiest international airports in the world and handles in excess of 68 million passengers and 450,000 aircraft movements as well as employing over 80,000 staff. The combined affect of the opening of Terminal 5 in 2008 and a third runway in 2015 will mean that passenger throughput is likely to increase to 100 million. Additionally the airport receives over 12 million other visitors and more than 20 million motor vehicles travel into the central terminal area in the course of the year.

London City Airport is located on the Royal Victoria Dock, within the London Borough of Newham. The airport has one terminal building, operates a single runway and was opened in May 1987. The airport employs approximately 1,400 staff and has a throughput of 2 million passengers every year, accommodating some 80,000 aircraft movements.

The role of the Metropolitan Police is to keep both Heathrow Airport and London City Airport safe to the travelling public, staff and visitors. We do this in partnership with other law enforcement agencies such as the United Kingdom Borders Agency (UKBA) and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).

Aviation Security is an armed OCU, which means that many of our officers do carry firearms although there are several other departments within the airport where officers do not carry firearms as part of their day-to-day work.

Both Airports have a dedicated team of officers within the terminals to deal with local issues; they are our Safer Airport Teams.

Aviation Security together with the rest of the Metropolitan Police values your feedback and have Citizen Focus at the heart of our services that we deliver.

Mike Gallagher
Head of Aviation Security