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Warning of airport staff 'security loophole'



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Published Date: 08 May 2008
By SAM MARSDEN
FOREIGN criminals could be working in restricted areas at Britain's airports because of a loophole in vetting requirements, it emerged last night.
Since 2003, all staff who work in the restricted "air-side" zone of terminals have had to undergo UK criminal records checks, but offences committed abroad are not always covered.

This means that the estimated "thousands" of foreigners who work ai
r-side at British airports may not have been fully vetted.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said checks of foreign criminal records are being considered as part of an independent review announced in December.

More thorough "counter-terrorist checks" are required for staff who work in particularly sensitive areas.

David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said the loophole would be a "disgrace" if it proved to be a case of "commercial interest trumping public safety". He called for immediate security checks on all staff currently working air-side, regardless of cost.

Jim McAuslan, general-secretary of pilots' union Balpa, said anyone unable to pass criminal record checks should not be employed air-side.

A DfT spokeswoman said: "All staff who work in the restricted zone of an airport are required to pass through the same security checks as passengers every time they enter it. Furthermore everyone must undergo a background check when applying to work in the restricted zone."





The full article contains 227 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 08 May 2008 12:39 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Scotland's airports
 
1

dba,

Edinburgh 08/05/2008 06:51:57
This is one of the most worrying stries that the Scotsman has carried.

Since the terrible night of Lockerbie, caused by an un-accompanied dag with a bomb inside it exploding causing 270 deaths - air security has been a continuing disgrace.

EVERY DAY THOUSANDS of un-accompanied bags have been flown in aircraft tyring to re-unite them with their owners (remember Terminal five fiasco with thousands of bags still be moved around).

NO - we find that, whereas UK workers have a full criminal record vetting...Foreign ones do not...truly incredible.

Given that the 'security chain' is only as strong as it's weakest ink; unvetted and monitored links in the chain pose a daramtic and un-acceptable risk and a terrorist only has to get lucky ONCE!

Are the authorities and flying public so niaive as to think Lockerbie cannot happen again...WAKE UP...it can and sadly and terribly , PROBABLY WILL.
2

The Trossachs Hasher,

08/05/2008 06:58:52
This latest alleged security lapse, while worrying, also goes to prove that there are many security gaps in this country, none of which seem to be taken advantage of by alleged terrorists.

Which really makes me question the actual level of threat to this country by terrorists. IF the Government or indeed the Media were to be believed, every one of these well publicised gaps would be taken advantage of by fantatics determined to make martyrs of themselves.
3

Bob Christie,

08/05/2008 08:40:42
Some numptie spokesperson for Liebour, Jim Fitzpatrick, was on Newsnight last night trying to assure PAXO that we had nothing to worry about because the foreign criminals working airside at our airports were screened every time they went to work.

He did NOT of course answer any of PAXO's direct questions about how MANY foreign convicted criminals work at airports.

Liebour's "war on terror" of course only exists to frighten the general citizenry in order to get their political agenda fulfilled. It does not actually mean they take a terrorist opportunity seriously.
4

yockel,

08/05/2008 14:59:00
Apparently it would be to expensive and time consuming to weed out foreign crimminals. In other words as Fitxpatrick claims, not necessary, so why do it for the British nationals?

Reassuring to know the security checks include brain washing every time they leave work so as not to take information with them when they leave the premises.
5

Iain's,

08/05/2008 15:39:48
Under Old New Labour, lots of people have criminal records for minor things like smoking pot, looking at policemen in a threatening manner, reading out the list of those killed by New Labour whilst looking for WMD,being young and black and other such things. I worked at BAA Airports with a criminal record in contravention to their employment regulations. I am however only a danger to myself!
6

John Blackley,

Florida 08/05/2008 15:42:01
This would be amusing if it wasn't so dangerous.

The government agency responsible for security-vetting airport workers has satisfied itself that none of them have a criminal record in the UK. Well, bully for them.

Their excuse for not carrying out Europe-wide and country-of-origin checks is that it is "too expensive and too time-consuming". I'm sure that, if just one of these unvetted workers caused or contributed to a loss of life, the grieving relatives would be comforted in thinking that their loved-one's life was worth less than the cost and inconvenience to the vetting agency.

Here's a thought that might get the government out of this particular pickle: If a foreign-born applicant for a job at an airport cannot be positively vetted (Europe-wide and at country of origin) within four weeks of applying for work then the application is denied.

Once again, amateur night.

 

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