People, you mock!
However without meaning to insult the vast majority there would be a small minority who might be transformed into Officer Dufuss at the slightest hint of any semi official status...just my opinion
Yep, I agree that's a possibility. But you get more than your job's worth from a host of (non-spotter) idiots in and around airports now. However, the idea of the scheme as I understand it is that it is not for the AIRPORT WATCH (spotters) to challenge or control the public. It is for them to
report anything they deem suspicious to airport police/security.
What some people forget is that when you ring the airport to report something suspect you have to get past the switchboard operator, that's assuming you have time to wait for the "Push 1 for Fred, Push 2 for Harry" dialog.
I acknowledge that this is said tongue-in-cheek. Nevertheless, again it must be said that the scheme ensures that the AIRPORT WATCHERS have direct telephone access to police/security.