"Attention" any nocturnal terrorists out there

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POLICE are providing only 9-to-5 security at Melbourne airport, despite air terminals being considered an ideal gateway for terrorists.
Revelations that the country's second-biggest airport had a skeleton staff came as police chiefs met yesterday to discuss plans to prevent a Madrid-style bombing in Australia.
Just two Victoria Police officers patrol Melbourne airport between 9am and 5pm, seven days a week.
This was confirmed in a letter from Terry Moran, the secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, to a federal inquiry into aviation security.
Mr Moran said the two foot patrol officers from Broadmeadows police station were enough, but extra police could be called in to handle full-scale emergencies.
The airport was the scene of a major terrorist scare in May last year, when a crazed passenger tried to hijack a Qantas flight to Launceston, injuring crew with sharpened wooden stakes.
"Victoria's response times depend on the nature of the offence, as well as the location of police units," Mr Moran said in a submission to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit.
"In the event of an incident within the airport that would affect or disrupt aviation security, Victoria Police would be at the location within 10 minutes."
He described the airport as similar to a small city with similar crimes -- theft, traffic offences and assaults.
About 16 million people pass through the domestic and international terminals each year.
Two officers have patrolled the airport seven days a week since 1999.
Police saw no reason to beef up their presence after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington in September 2001.
State police at the airport are backed up by officers from the Australian Federal Police and Australian Protective Services.
The AFP and APS have the power to make arrests for federal offences, such as terrorism and drug trafficking, but state police play a back-up role.
A spokesman for Victoria Police said two officers between 9am and 5pm was all that was needed to keep the public safe.
"We believe this is sufficient, because in the case of a terrorist attack or anything major there is back-up 10 minutes down the road," the spokesman said.
Crime statistics compiled by Victoria Police show an average of 17 offences reported at the airport each month.

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