Gatwick airport is cutting security staff.

Fifteen community support officers (CSOs) being moved and deployed elsewhere in Sussex.

A wage bill of more than £250,000 will be slashed from the airport's security costs.

CSOs' salaries start at £17,412. BAA, which runs Gatwick, pays for all airport security, although officers are provided by Sussex Police.

A BAA spokeswoman said: "It is not a funding issue but we decided we didn't need the level we had.

"We would never do anything that would jeopardise security. BAA regularly talks with the police about the threat posed at Gatwick.

"We have put in place a level of policing at the airport we are satisfied with."

Airport staff said yesterday they were worried by the announcement.

A British Airways cabin crew member, who did not want to be named, said: "It does seem bizarre they would want to reduce the number of officers when security is supposed to be so tight.

"It's a daily worry for us as airports are a prime target."

Jim McCauslan, general secretary of pilots' union Balpa, said he would be taking the matter up with the airport.

He said: "Safety is a naturally a priority with Balpa and our pilots and we will be raising the matter with BAA very soon."

CSOs were introduced in September 2002 after reforms by Home Secretary David Blunkett.

With 74 officers, Sussex has one of the largest CSO teams outside London.

Friday June 04, 2004