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Airport Security
Comments
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I thought when I read your first post you were talking about the UK,
You did. So perhaps you do need to worry.Recently at a UK airport I observed operatives in the Security Theatre moving freely from landside to airside and back, i.e. not passing through the metal detectors. Surely this is a major breach of security, or am I just being overly cautious in my thinking?0 -
You did. So perhaps you do need to worry.
As I stated to start with in reply......................As far as I know all the security staff at any airport are well vetted prior to getting the job so SHOULD be cleared not to use the scanners.
I understand your thinking re this but like with all air side staff the risk IMO would be minimal.
So no I do not need to worry at all as I am happy to believe that those people have been vetted to a high degree before given clearance to work in those areas. I have been using airports in the UK for well over 50 years and have never worried about the security people and I do not intend to start now.
In the end where do you draw a line? who is the one that is "the top person" and who is there to check them??0 -
...For instance, someone brings a gun past the boarding card check and passes it to a member of the security team in the general mayhem that constitutes the long pre-screening queues. That security person then bypasses the metal detector and passes the gun back to his accomplice, airside, at a later time.
That would be observed on CCTV and by senior officers, everybody is being watched all the time by more than one person.Posts are not advice and must not be relied upon.0 -
That would be observed on CCTV and by senior officers, everybody is being watched all the time by more than one person.
I very much doubt it. Yes, the UK has a very unhealthy affinity to total surveillance, but it is easily defeated. What most people tend to forget is that the vast majority of spy cameras are not monitored, they simply record what's going on. At best they can help with the post mortem.0 -
As I stated to start with in reply......................As far as I know all the security staff at any airport are well vetted prior to getting the job so SHOULD be cleared not to use the scanners.
I understand your thinking re this but like with all air side staff the risk IMO would be minimal.
So no I do not need to worry at all as I am happy to believe that those people have been vetted to a high degree before given clearance to work in those areas. I have been using airports in the UK for well over 50 years and have never worried about the security people and I do not intend to start now.
In the end where do you draw a line? who is the one that is "the top person" and who is there to check them??
It's not the case, there's been a requirement in the UK for airport staff entering a secure area to be screened every time they enter a secure area since 1993 or 94
The EU put in place similar regulations in 2004.
The biggest single threat to airport security or crime is from an insiderChange is inevitable, except from a vending machine.0 -
Possibly. However, if this sort of thing was seen at, say, an airport in Egypt I'm sure it would be worrying to most people.
Four days after the Metro Jet was blown up the Egyptian secuity staff were still letting Egyptians push in front of me and bypass the scanners. I have no concerns about flying out from the UK, Gatwick have gone mental on security, but flying back.......0 -
I'll not name the airport at this point, but by operatives I mean the security staff.
Just to go right back, were these security staff armed?
Airside staff do have to go through security several times per shift. I do believe, though cannot swear to it, that a very limited number of security staff don't have to pass through security if they are in pursuit. I only know the system at certain LHR terminals, but I have heard in the past that the rules are different at other UK airports, particularly where there are airside smoking facilities because that removes another reason for staff leaving airside during their shift.
I've been through the 'staff' security at LHR and it isn't in public view.0 -
Just to go right back, were these security staff armed?
Airside staff do have to go through security several times per shift. I do believe, though cannot swear to it, that a very limited number of security staff don't have to pass through security if they are in pursuit. I only know the system at certain LHR terminals, but I have heard in the past that the rules are different at other UK airports, particularly where there are airside smoking facilities because that removes another reason for staff leaving airside during their shift.
I've been through the 'staff' security at LHR and it isn't in public view.
No, not armed. In fact, I've never seen armed security staff at a UK airport.
The staff didn't seem to be segregated into landside and airside staff. They passed from one side to the other via a gate adjacent to the metal detector arch.
I would put money on the possibility that, say, a national newspaper could implant someone in the security team to act as a "gun mule" for a test passenger.0 -
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No, not armed. In fact, I've never seen armed security staff at a UK airport.
The staff didn't seem to be segregated into landside and airside staff. They passed from one side to the other via a gate adjacent to the metal detector arch.
I would put money on the possibility that, say, a national newspaper could implant someone in the security team to act as a "gun mule" for a test passenger.
Why don't you just call the airport and ask to speak to the head of security?
You'll then either get an explanation of what you think you saw or a thanks and some internal investigation by them, either way, I'm sure they'll be happy you called with your concerns.Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.0
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