A group of local MPs led by South West Bedfordshire MP Andrew Selous and Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins, have met police minister Tony McNulty ask why taxpayers in Bedfordshire are picking up a £400,000 policing bill for Luton Airport, despite other smaller airports having their security paid for by the airport operators.
In the past The Home Office paid £1.3 million toward the cost of policing Luton airport, but last year this sum was reduced by £400,000, leaving the county police force - an ultimately local taxpayers - to make up for the loss. This came at a time when airport security costs rose after the summer terror alert. The county's police force, already facing a deficit, has said that it cannot afford to make up the £400,000 funding gap.
As a result of the meeting, the minister will write to Luton airport bosses to ask them to contribute to their policing costs voluntarily as other airports do.
Voluntarily....Good Luck Mr Hopkins!