BBC - Airport Security
Sep 5, 2004 | 11:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 1,673
BBC - Airport Security
A BBC investigation has revealed what the corporation claims are "shocking" security lapses at Manchester Airport.
An undercover reporter working as an aviation security officer for the BBC One Whistleblower series was encouraged to flout Department for Transport rules on bag searches, the BBC said.
It said she also found aircraft left open and unattended overnight and that staff knowingly used faulty metal detectors.
A Manchester Airport spokesman said: "We take any allegations of shortcomings extremely serious and any breaches in procedure are rectified immediately."
Journalist Michelle Cox spent ten weeks working at the airport.
Programme makers said on one occasion around a thousand passengers passed through the airport from Pakistan but only three random bag searches took place.
"Michelle was told by colleagues to exaggerate the figures, with one workmate openly declaring, `We cheat'," a statement said.
"Michelle also discovered planes left open and unattended on the tarmac overnight with easy access provided by the steps, which had been left attached, contrary to security rules."
The reporter was also able to gain access to one of the planes and film undisturbed, the programme said.
The BBC also claims the film will show a metal detector failing to sound when a knife and gun were passed through it as part of a test.
It said: "The detector failed to go off on a number of occasions and was shut down.
"The second detector in the area was tested with a large pair of scissors and also failed to go off on a number of occasions.
"This one was not shut down and staff continued to allow approaching passengers through security using the unreliable machine."
Security team leaders are also alleged to have tipped off colleagues about covert DfT inspectors, phoning their physical descriptions through to colleagues.
An undercover reporter working as an aviation security officer for the BBC One Whistleblower series was encouraged to flout Department for Transport rules on bag searches, the BBC said.
It said she also found aircraft left open and unattended overnight and that staff knowingly used faulty metal detectors.
A Manchester Airport spokesman said: "We take any allegations of shortcomings extremely serious and any breaches in procedure are rectified immediately."
Journalist Michelle Cox spent ten weeks working at the airport.
Programme makers said on one occasion around a thousand passengers passed through the airport from Pakistan but only three random bag searches took place.
"Michelle was told by colleagues to exaggerate the figures, with one workmate openly declaring, `We cheat'," a statement said.
"Michelle also discovered planes left open and unattended on the tarmac overnight with easy access provided by the steps, which had been left attached, contrary to security rules."
The reporter was also able to gain access to one of the planes and film undisturbed, the programme said.
The BBC also claims the film will show a metal detector failing to sound when a knife and gun were passed through it as part of a test.
It said: "The detector failed to go off on a number of occasions and was shut down.
"The second detector in the area was tested with a large pair of scissors and also failed to go off on a number of occasions.
"This one was not shut down and staff continued to allow approaching passengers through security using the unreliable machine."
Security team leaders are also alleged to have tipped off colleagues about covert DfT inspectors, phoning their physical descriptions through to colleagues.
Sep 5, 2004 | 1:16 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 108
For those FTers in the UK, this programme is being shown on Tuesday night on BBC1 at 2100. Since I'm staying at an LHR hotel with a nervous flyer mother that night scheduled to go through security the next morning, I think I'll pass on it. If anyone does get a chance to watch it, it would be interesting to get an FT take on it
Sep 5, 2004 | 3:12 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Brighton England
Programs: AA Plat, various hotels
Posts: 1,220
I work at Gatwick Airport, not for security, and have to say i find the security very good.
Since i started working at the airport my confidence in the security at the airports has increased. Anyone going airside is properly checked regardless of who they are.
This is not the first time a story like this has come out, one of our tabloids also did something similar.
To work at an airport you have to undergo stringent checking, often taking several months before a pass is issued.
I'd not worry about security in the UK, its been good here for many years.
Since i started working at the airport my confidence in the security at the airports has increased. Anyone going airside is properly checked regardless of who they are.
This is not the first time a story like this has come out, one of our tabloids also did something similar.
To work at an airport you have to undergo stringent checking, often taking several months before a pass is issued.
I'd not worry about security in the UK, its been good here for many years.