New concern over security checks
Exercise shows one-in-five suspect packages are not picked up by scanners
Terrorists who chose to carry a bomb in their hand luggage would have a one-in-five chance of it getting through X-ray scanners in the UK’s airports, according to the incoming head of the BAA.
Staff from the operator were asked to watch “virtual” luggage pass by them, with suspect packages thrown in at random. Worryingly, BAA admitted to the Daily Mail that staff were missing 19 per cent of suspect packages – and then went on to defend the figure, stating that the failure rate “proves the test is not too easy”.
Corporate affairs director Ian Hargreaves told the newspaper: “You can’t train anyone with a process that does not push them and doesn’t demonstrate there are vulnerabilities.”
He said BAA is “recruiting like crazy” to attract more security officers, but added that training takes several weeks – and that passengers are likely to experience delays during the peak summer months because of increased checks.
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