Perhaps you should google "behavior pattern recognition " as well as "screening passengers by observation techniques" and look a little more at how Ben Gurion Airport .... possibly the potentially most dangerous target airport in the world and how they have reduced risks impressively before concluding on the issue.
The TSA's SPOT program is not comparable to what is done at TLV.
Originally Posted by B747-437B
Special Branch operations at Gatwick are almost always based upon specific intelligence. As I mentioned earlier, I've worked a lot with these folks over the years and they are the most professional police officers I've encountered anywhere in the world. They don't have the time or resources to go on fishing expeditions.
This is not a bunch of wannabe cops playing fortune teller at an airport carnival like the TSA SPOT program. This is the real deal. The fact that the OP's interaction appears to have been quite pleasant speaks volumes in comparison.
Surely the interaction would have been even more pleasant (cough) had the officer explained this specific intelligence instead of giving some blow-off non-reason. I know they
have to have their little secrets, but the result is just one more traveller being left with a less than favourable opinion of the police.
We're not stupid, tell us why you're in our faces.