In 1961 the Liverpool City Council made a decision to take over Liverpool Airport from the Civil Aviation Authority, who had hitherto had responsibility for policing the Airport. On 1st April 1961 the control of the Airport passed to Liverpool City Council, and two tasks now faced the Council: first to find suitable men to fill the Police posts and, secondly, means of providing them with adequate powers to perform their duties.

The first problem was overcome as the council had retained the services of a number of former Civil Aviation Police Officers and brought the force up to strength with selected officers from its own Parks Police. The second task was more difficult as, unlike the Parks, there was no legislation in place allowing Officers to be sworn in as Constables, and to do so would require this to be passed in Parliament. The council did not have the time it would take.

In an effort to resolve the situation the Town Clerk approached the Chief Constable of Liverpool for a solution, who agreed to the men being sworn in as Special Constables on the understanding that it was a temporary measure until the City Council arranged its own means of swearing in officers.

A system of personal radios was introduced in 1967 allowing both Foot and Mobile patrols to remain in constant contact with the radio operator based in No 2 hangar.

The high standard of the force is well illustrated by the following. In 1970 Constables Cunliffe and Petty received a commendation from the Chief Constable of Liverpool Police, which read:

This was praise indeed from a Chief Constable who had no time for any non Home Office Force.

In 1972 the force consisted of one Superintendent (part time), four Sergeants and 15 Constables, four of whom were dog handlers. Transport consisted of an Austin J4 van and a Mini van. These were dark blue with a yellow roof and carried an orange beacon. Police markings were applied front and back and the title Airport Police was applied to each door; all markings were in white.

Officers driving on the Airport were required to pass a CAA driving course and were issued with a special CAA driving licence. In addition to the Police vehicle radio, vehicles carried a radio tuned to the airfield wavelength. Officers by now received six weeks' training on the syllabus of the Air Transport Training Board. Full 24-hour cover was provided, working three eight-hour shifts.

The situation got worse when two ex Airport Police Officers were moved to another location, and this resulted in strike action by some of the ex Police Officers which was finally resolved after four days through a meeting with Senior Officers from the City Security Force.

In 1974 a special report recommended that the Officers' Special Constables powers be revived and that they be given new uniforms to distinguish them from regular Police Officers.

It was hoped that Liverpool Airport would become a designated Airport under the Policing of Airports Act 1974. This was not to be, and accordingly on April 1 the Airport passed to the control of Merseyside County Council.

The same uniform continued to be worn, with the exception of the cap badge, which changed to an eight-pointed chrome star with the title Merseyside County Council Airport Security on a dark blue circle. The Airport Police have always worn the same Tunic as the Liverpool & Bootle Constabulary and before that the Liverpool City Police. The Airports Police warrants were finally withdrawn in 1978.

Airport Security Officers looked after the Airport for 12 years until the 1984 Local Government Act led to the abolition of the County Council on 1st April 1986.

Security since that time has been carried out by private security companies.