Catalogue description Civil Aviation Authority: Director Personnel and Central Services, Security Department: Registered Files (8/5 and other series)

Arrangement is by chronological order by accession as records were not originally kept in former reference order.

Security measures for the National Air Traffic Control Service (originally based in Woburn Place, London) seems to have been formally introduced in December 1962 when the security handbooks and regulations of the Ministry of Aviation and the Air Ministry were revised. This coincided with the creation of the National Air Traffic Control Service (NATCS) in the same year. Prior to this date, the Ministry of Supply Security Handbook was used extensively by these departments.

A formal agreement to create a Security Branch was made between the Chief Security Officer of the Air Ministry and the Chief Executive of Air Traffic Control (Ministry of Aviation) in December 1962. A new Ministry of Aviation Security Division would have overall responsibility for NATCS security arrangements whereby each branch of NATCS employed a security officer. Ministry of Aviation directorates were also to have Branch Security Liaison Officers who were to collate and coordinate security policy.

CNATS staff also had to comply with the Ministry of Defence Manual 4 security instructions as they invariably had to work on classified military information.

The Department of Trade and Industry took over the NATCS in 1970. Each branch was allocated a Branch Security Officer, responsible for the supervision of security standards, and a Duty Security Officer to carry out inspection duties. DTI security instructions and notices were issued by the Branch Security Officers.

From 1970, air traffic security relating to distinct groupings were separated out and allocated to staff from these groups; rather than administered by NATCS staff. These groups are identified as the Department of Trade and Industry, Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence (Air Force Department (Civilian)) and the Royal Navy.

The Civil Aviation Authority developed its security along consistent organisation wide safety and security policies and has developed sophisticated safety and security management systems. Discreet security branches were created during the 1980s.

In 1996 the Security Department of the National Air Traffic Services Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Civil Aviation Authority) took over the Authority's security functions, advising on physical security, counter-terrorism, contingency planning and security education and investigating major and routine security / criminal incidents.