Airport Security – Are we exposed to more danger?

I was watching Sky News recently and Eamonn Holmes was talking to a Senior member of the British Airports Authority  about the current legislation surrounding bringing liquids through security.  What this very eminent and experienced gentleman revealed was a real eye-opener, and something that I have often wondered about.

So here’s the story – as you know if you read my last blog I was ranting about the farcical plastic bags/liquids palaver at airports in the name of ‘security and safety of passengers’.

He says that this Restriction of Liquids legislation was introduced 10 years ago in light of the  liquid bomb  attempt at Heathrow airport.  He says it was right to introduce a restriction on bringing liquids air side in the aftermath of this incident, but should never have been allowed to continue to be in place at airports a decade later.  It was a knee-jerk reaction, which  has done nothing to improve the security of passengers.

He questioned the validity of this practice as he says that the Airport security staff are no longer looking for potential terrorists, studying their body language, faces, demeanor, as they are more focused on looking for liquids over 100ml! This practice has been identified as the biggest single occupier of security officers’ time and is the key cause of security delays in peak hours.  That is a very worrying statement.  He also asked, why, if these liquids are such a threat to security, are they stored within the Airport  and not safely removed offsite away from passengers & aircraft?

At Manchester airport alone, more than 140million tonnes of bottled drinks are confiscated each year, with over 80 wheelie bins a day of sun creams, water, perfumes and toothpaste etc – deemed a ‘serious threat of security’…….  Imagine how many wheelie bins  are filled every day throughout the UK Airports & Ports??  How are we disposing of the contents? Landfill? I’m sure someone is entrepreneurial enough to see a money making scheme here or am I just being cynical?

The Gentleman went on to say, that in fact this legislation puts passengers in even more danger as this practice creates a back-log of people  gathered at the Check in areas, as well as  shops, restaurants, & bars,where they are more vulnerable to attack!  Take the terrible incident at Brussels Airport on 22nd March this year – the bombs were detonated in the Departure hall where people were congregated in a confined area in large numbers.

Terrorists plan their attacks meticulously and the sad fact is that if they wanted to carry out an attack air side or on an aircraft, they are clever enough to thwart the existing predictable and ineffective methods in place at the moment.

There was talk awhile back on Passenger Profiling, which although controversial, I believe should be implemented.  In today’s dangerous world, Intelligence is held on those who are suspected of being a potential threat.  Surely this should be the focus of the, no doubt hard working, security officers working at our Ports & Airports in stead of confiscating our suncream?

Would really appreciate your comments on this.

Gina