Taxi and Private Hire drivers are being urged to report drunk passengers heading to Gatwick airport

Sussex Police want to reduce the amount of drunken behaviour at Gatwick Airport and are urging taxi drivers to do their bit by reporting "Boozed-up" holiday makers on arrival. The crackdown on drunk people flying being headed by Sussex Police and Gatwick Airport, who are making it clear that it won't be tolerated.

As reported by My London, increased patrols are being put in place at Gatwick Airport as part of the new Project Disrupt, after 56 people were arrested at the airport last summer for being too drunk.

Officers are hoping early signs of drunken behaviour will be spotted and reported by taxi and private hire drivers dropping off at the airport in a bid to weed out "hooligans" before any trouble ensues.

Disruptive behaviour includes all forms of verbal or physical abuse, antisocial behaviour, criminal damage, smoking or vaping and drug use. Inspector James Biggs said: “While the vast majority of passengers are well-behaved, and travel through the airport and arrive at their destination without a problem, there is a very small minority who ruin it for themselves and for others.

"By engaging with passengers at the earliest opportunity – through patrols, face to face contact by police and airport staff and the distribution of posters and leaflets – we are making them fully aware of the rules and their own responsibility. “Passengers could be refused carriage if they are considered to be drunk, disorderly or disruptive. “We are not out there with the intention to arrest people or ruin their holiday; we want all passengers to travel through Gatwick safely and smoothly.

"We are fully committed to working with Gatwick Airport to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.”

Nikki Barton from Gatwick Airport, said: “Only a tiny minority of Gatwick’s 46 million annual passengers are disruptive, but we are determined to do what we can to stamp out this sort of behaviour.

“A range of measures including working collaboratively with our airlines and the police to encourage early reporting and targeted intervention appear to be working. "We are, however, introducing further measures to prevent more serious incidents of disruptive behaviour from occurring on board aircraft. "This year a new streamlined reporting and recording process should help us to respond and deal with incidents as they occur on the airport. “It remains vital that the public are aware of the serious consequences of being disruptive while at an airport or on an aircraft.”

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