Had a similar exerience at Teeside - no secure escort airside on arrival or departure.
Once past the security gate (xray and search) to return to the aircraft, myself and my passengers could wander about anywhere airside.
There was no search at my departure airfield, so I could have arrived with something untoward in the aircraft, and once landed I was able to freely wander about airside.
In addition, there was no check going out through the security gate - This could lead to an interesting situation of arriving with something deemed unsafe, carrying it out of the airport, but then not being allowed back through security with it!