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26-526: The Aviation Security Operational Command Unit ( SO18 ), after April 2015 known as Aviation Policing Command ( APC ) or Specialist Operations – Aviation Policing ( SOAP ), is a Specialist Operations unit of London's Metropolitan Police Service . The unit is responsible for providing policing and security for both Heathrow and London City airports. London's other airports – Gatwick , Stansted and Luton – are policed by Sussex , Essex and Bedfordshire Police respectively, as they are not located in

52-519: A time when the Met was under intense public and media scrutiny. Newman subsequently initiated one of the most major reform campaigns the Met had ever undertaken. Among his initiatives were: Newman spoke out against the prevalence of Freemasonry in the police, although a police Freemason's Lodge, the Manor of St James, was set up and flourished shortly after his comments. He retired in 1987, his reforms paving

78-652: A wireless operator at No. 1 Radio School RAF when he was nicknamed " Jankers " but he did not complete the course and remustered to become a Mechanical Transport Driver. Completing his training, Newman served for two years with the RAF Far East Air Force . On his return to England, he promptly joined the Palestine Police Force in the British Mandate of Palestine , where he served as a uniformed officer before being seconded to

104-469: Is led by a commander overseen by a deputy assistant commissioner . The deputy assistant commissioner is the concurrent National Police Chiefs' Council Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing leading the network. The Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) is responsible for protecting London and the rest of the United Kingdom from the threat of terrorism. The command operates against

130-785: The Metropolitan Police District . Policing at Heathrow was initially undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority . In 1965, the responsibility was taken over by the British Airports Authority Constabulary , which subsequently passed to the Metropolitan Police on 1 November 1974 as a consequence of the Policing of Airports Act 1974. Policing of London City Airport has always been undertaken by

156-663: The Protection Command was split into three units that provided protection for ministers, for the royal family, and for foreign embassies, diplomats, and visiting dignitaries: Until April 2015, the Security Command consisted of three units that provided protection for Parliament, for the two airports within Greater London (Heathrow Airport and London City Airport), and for major events in London. This

182-778: The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in Northern Ireland and was promoted to Chief Constable in May 1976. Using his experience in public order policing, and his penchant for reform, Newman was instrumental in transforming the RUC from a "poor cousin" of the British Army in the region, to the dominant security force in Northern Ireland, police force. He introduced the policy of Ulsterisation. Newman

208-693: The United Kingdom or from the diplomatic community. As such, it is analogous to the United States Secret Service or the Diplomatic Security Service . The command comprises two branches: The Security Command is led by a commander and overseen by the same deputy assistant commissioner as the Protection Command. The command comprises two branches: The Counter Terrorism Command (CTC)

234-732: The United Kingdom Border Force and UK Visas and Immigration . Traffic wardens and Police Community Support Officers work at both airports. In 2005, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner , Sir Ian Blair , announced that Specialist Operations units were to be re-aligned. The plans included forming three new departments within Specialist Operations to carry out specific functions: Firearms commonly used for armed airport policing duties: Armed Response Airport Vehicles patrol

260-551: The Metropolitan Police a specialist policing capability. The SO designation was implemented in 1985 as part of Sir Kenneth Newman 's restructuring of the Metropolitan Police Service. Most of the units designated SO units were already in existence, many of them as branches within C Department of New Scotland Yard, and all were presided over by an Assistant Commissioner of Special Operations (ACSO). In 1999 its Organised Crime Group took over residual work from

286-589: The Metropolitan Police during his tenure as Commissioner and for seeing the RUC replace the British Army as the dominant security force in Northern Ireland during his tenure as Chief Constable. Newman was born on 15 August 1926 in Hackney, London and grew up in North Bersted . He joined the Royal Air Force in 1942, three days after his 16th birthday. After basic training, Newman trained to be

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312-444: The Metropolitan Police, with Aviation Security acquiring the remit from local officers during 2004. The unit employs around 400 police officers , the vast majority being trained Firearms Officers . Along with carrying out routine policing, Aviation Security must always guard against terrorism and be ready to respond to an aircraft emergency . Human trafficking is another area policed, with close working relationships existing with

338-567: The Palestine Special Branch as a detective. When the Palestine Police were disbanded in 1948, the Metropolitan Police sent several recruitment officers from London to convince interested officers to transfer to the Met – Newman signed up and returned to London shortly afterwards where he was stationed at Bow Street . Newman rose up the ranks quickly: promoted to Sergeant in 1953; a Detective Inspector with

364-453: The UK. Seen as being particularly controversial, information about a suspected offence is normally received from either the airline or airport security personnel. Having informed police, there is a requirement that such allegations are investigated which is undertaken by these officers. Utilising special breath test devices, officers screen crews accused of having consumed alcohol to prove or disprove

390-476: The Vice Squad; Chief Inspector at Southwark in 1963 and Superintendent and Chief Superintendent at Gerald Road from 1965. Noted by his colleagues and superiors as a high-flyer, Newman had developed several important initiatives including a traffic warden scheme and, having been present and having taken a very active role on the 'front line' during the riot, reviewing police public order tactics during

416-562: The airport. They also work alongside the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) of the Department for Transport where a vehicle may have been involved in an aircraft collision. The officers can be distinguished from their armed colleagues as they wear white caps, high visibility jackets and drive conventionally motorway marked battenburg liveried vehicles and are unarmed. They can be regularly seen on

442-438: The allegation. These rules relate not only to pilots, air traffic controllers, cabin crews but also to ground engineers. Penalties imposed by Courts are particularly severe although the majority of individuals who have been convicted have been foreign members of crew working for foreign carriers. Specialist Operations At its peak, Specialist Operations (SO) was a group of twenty specialist units, which were formed to give

468-465: The disbanded War Crimes Unit . In 2010, ACSO co-directed Operation Guava , aimed at "a significant terrorist plot". The aim of this ACSO action was to prevent the establishment of a jihadist training camp in Kashmir on land owned by one of the suspects. Operation Guava resulted in the 2012 conviction of Usman Khan , who went on to perpetrate the 2019 London Bridge stabbing . Until April 2015,

494-654: The entry and exit points to the main terminal buildings, the perimeter roads and respond to firearms calls in local boroughs. There are also armed foot patrols inside. One of the key operational units within SO18 is the Aviation and Road Policing Unit . The unit is manned by a small group of traffic officers, trained in Road Collision Investigation, Traffic Law Enforcement are experienced in dealing with collisions and incidents involving vehicles around

520-475: The investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and politically motivated murders. It was created in 2006 through the merger of the Met's Anti-Terrorist Branch and Special Branch . Owing to continual restructuring of the Metropolitan Police, only a few of the original SO units still exist in their original form and still use the SO designation. Where the SO designation has been reassigned to another unit,

546-601: The major anti- Vietnam War demonstration outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square , which had taken place on 17 March 1968. After undertaking external studies at the University of London , Newman received a Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 1971, and was promoted to Commander , serving in various capacities at New Scotland Yard . In 1973, Newman applied for the position of Deputy Chief Constable of

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572-513: The strategic motorway network surrounding the airport, the perimeter roads and also on the terminal forecourts where, along with enforcing the road traffic regulations and assisting the free flow of vehicles, they undertake a highly visible public reassurance counter-terrorism role. This small group of highly specialised officers have led the implementation of new legislation, the Railway & Transport Safety Act to regulate drink flying offences in

598-619: The threat of terrorism at a local, national and international level, and supports the national Counter Terrorism Policing network (the regional counter terrorism units and the National Police Chiefs' Council). The Command also has the national lead for domestic extremism in support of the National Domestic Extremism and Disorder Intelligence Unit . The command also deals with sensitive national security investigations, such as Official Secrets Act enquiries,

624-482: The units are listed in order Kenneth Newman Sir Kenneth Leslie Newman GBE CStJ QPM (15 August 1926 – 4 February 2017) was a senior British police officer . He was Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) from 1976 to 1980, and Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1982 to 1987. He is best known for initiating a major reform and restructure of

650-486: Was knighted in the 1978 New Year Honours after his work with the RUC. Newman was recalled to England in 1980 and served for three years as Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and Commandant of the Police Staff College, Bramshill , where he once again honed his skills in public order policing and management reform. Newman's appointment as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in 1982 came at

676-601: Was formed by the merger in October 2006 of the Anti-Terrorist Branch (SO13) and Special Branch (SO12), both already within Specialist Operations. It has remained structurally unchanged since that date. The Specialist Operations Directorate comprises three commands. The Protection Command is led by a commander overseen by a deputy assistant commissioner . The command is responsible for protective security for high-profile governmental representatives of

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