Police charge two over Canberra Airport carousel joyride

The AFP has charged two Queenslanders after an adult allegedly encouraged a child, 14, to enter a restricted area by riding on a baggage carousel.

Canberra Airport Group contacted AFP officers about the 2 July incident, which was allegedly captured on security cameras.

The AFP will allege CCTV footage showed two men filming the child as he entered a secure area.

Police stopped a man, 58, and a child, 14, at Canberra Airport yesterday (9 July, 2023) before their scheduled return flight to Queensland. A phone, which allegedly contained footage of the incident, was seized for examination.

Detective Acting Inspector Jon Horrocks said the AFP had zero tolerance for poor behavior at airports.

“Airport security is no joke and restrictions exist to ensure the safety and security of the travelling public and workers,” he said.

“Canberra Airport Group, the AFP and industry partners take any security breaches at airports seriously and people can be prosecuted if they commit a criminal offence.”

The two individuals were charged with entering a security restricted area at a designated airport through access control points, contrary to regulation 3.16B of the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005 (Cth).

The man is scheduled to appear before ACT Magistrates Court on 3 October, 2023.

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