MONTRÉAL, March 28, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) wishes to clarify its existing measures to ensure public safety and security at Montréal–Trudeau airport.
As Greater Montréal's airport authority, ADM's mission is to provide the community with airport services while ensuring the safety and security of people and facilities. For this purpose, ADM has its own safety and security service, the Airport Patrol, and collaborates closely with the many other law enforcement agencies that either work at or have jurisdiction at the airport. The Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) has a permanent station in the terminal itself. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and Sûreté du Québec (SQ) also operate at the airport within their specific roles. Transport Canada, for its part, is the regulatory authority that oversees air transportation.
Montréal–Trudeau airport is equipped with numerous sophisticated surveillance systems, specialized response teams, including for explosives detection, a permanent emergency measures coordination centre and very effective emergency plans, tested with regular drills in the field and audited by, among others, Transport Canada.
Montréal–Trudeau airport is unquestionably among the most secure locations there is, and this is true for all of the country's major airports, which are subject to the same laws and regulations governing safety and security. Not only is there a large concentration of human and technical resources dedicated to safety and security, they are gathered in one place within permanent and effective coordinating structures.
Access to restricted areas
The airport territory comprises public areas, with unrestricted access, and restricted areas, including the airfield, to which access is extremely strictly controlled. Every entry point, interior or exterior, is manned by a security checkpoint.
Employees who work in restricted areas must carry a pass issued in compliance with applicable regulations (RAIC: restricted area identity card) which includes a total security investigation and gives access to working zone only. In addition to being regularly investigated and monitored, every time they enter they are subject to a random search and have their identity confirmed by iris-reading or digital fingerprint. Employees who have temporary passes can access restricted areas under certain conditions: they are systematically searched whenever they need to enter, and are checked by the Airport Patrol. To watch the employee procedure for accessing the restricted areas: http://www.admtl.com/en/adm/media/video
Risk evaluation
As for various risks, including radicalization, ADM works with the different law enforcement agencies responsible for risk investigation, prevention and analysis. At present, ADM has not been informed of any specific threat. If such were the case, ADM and its partners would immediately implement the necessary measures.
The report on the JE show on Tuesday, March 28, implies that the solution would be to add more armed personnel at the airport. It is, however, important to clarify that there are already armed staff at Montréal–Trudeau who are trained and ready to respond if an emergency situation warrants it.
Risk management and prevention and upholding safety and security are constant concerns for ADM and its partners. The numerous existing prevention and control measures and mechanisms in place have proven their effectiveness.
For more information on law enforcement agencies working at the airports, visit: http://www.admtl.com/en/adm/safety/law-enforcement-agencies.
About Aéroports de Montréal
Aéroports de Montréal is the local airport authority that has been responsible for the management, operation and development of Montréal–Trudeau and Montréal–Mirabel international airports since 1992. The Corporation employs 625 people at both airports and at head office.
For more information about Aéroports de Montréal and its activities, visit our website at www.admtl.com.
SOURCE Aéroports de Montréal
Public Affairs and Communications, Tel.: 514 394-7304
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