Originally Posted by bealine

I don't know how many times the Daily Telegraph, or the Mail on Sunday or the Sun have to get explosives through security in a coffee cup - or a dismantled gun through the x-ray in three parts - or a cigarette lighter that can blow away half an airport terminal building - before you "Doubting Thomases" out there start to realise that "art" like this just makes it easier for those determined enough.

Security cannot stop the dedicated professional. The Al Qa'eda training camps will eventually provide someone, or a group, dedicated, determined and sufficiently trained to get through the net. So far, our security forces have been lucky, the intelligence network has remained one step ahead and the cash flow to Al Qa'eda has been restricted enough to limit its resources.

........but I am not thinking about Al Qa'eda. I am more interested in the small, but equally deadly, number of criminally insane people out there who seek their moment of glory. Airport Terminal buildings and aeroplanes seem to have a natural attraction because of the enormous media attention and publicity a "spectacular" receives. The danger with the criminally insane is that, until they act, everything they do seems normal and in order.

It is these people that our airport managers should be ensuring have no opportunity to spot a soft target. I suggest this piece of "artwork" is flawed in three ways:

1. The ability to deposit an extra bag without detection.
2. Providing something for people to stop and gawp at - an airport terminal is all about keeping people moving - from kerbside to bag drop to security to shops to gate to aeroplane - whew!
3. The third I won't mention because it may provide someone with an idea.

I served with the Army in Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles. I was professionally trained in making public areas safe for people, and making it difficult for incendiary devices to be easily hidden. I can tell you now that if the Belfast (Aldergrove) Airport Manager had put that "artwork" in his terminal, he would have been charged with "inciting terrorism and interfering with the security forces in the line of duty."

Unfortunately, within weeks of 09/11, the Gatwick managers saw fit to place metal recycling bins throughout the terminal. I had a little word with the Police Inspector who admitted they weren't happy with the thought of shards of shrapnel flying every which way in an explosion either - but the BAA pay for our services, so what can you do? As far as I know, those recycling bins are still around.

Tail wags the dog, I think?