Over the top security
I RECENTLY flew to Southampton, accompanying my husband for an emergency operation. I always carry a bottle of water with me which I empty prior to going to departures, however on going through security, my bag was pulled out, something was said about a bottle, and I said ‘yes, I have an empty one’ and pulled it out. The woman wasn’t satisfied with the bottle; she said that she needed to go through my whole bag. I then queried why my husband’s bag was OK when he also had an empty bottle; she said that maybe mine had showed that it had liquid in it. As it turned out there was a dribble in the bottom (not even a mouthful). In my haste, being a bit stressed, I hadn’t checked the bottle after emptying it. Anyway, the woman then proceeded to empty everything from my rucksack – every pocket and container, even my handbag, which was inside, and even looking into every compartment in my purse. Everything that could be opened was opened and that which couldn’t be opened was squeezed and prodded. I was getting more and more stressed – one security man had to bring me two glasses of water and another woman was holding my hand trying to calm me down as I was in quite a state, feeling a bit faint at times and humiliated in front of all the other passengers, being looked upon as a criminal, with all my belongings sitting in trays in front of me – and I am 69 years old.
I have travelled extensively through many large international airports and have never come across such over-the-top treatment. On one occasion (at Gatwick) when we had to transfer our bags to only carry-on luggage at the last minute, several bottles had not been pulled out, security found them, just took them out and ran them through the machine again – they didn’t pull all the contents out of the case like this woman did. I know that security is important but she made me feel as though I was being punished. This ‘over the top’ attitude at Guernsey airport is just not acceptable and if it happens to the tourists, who we are trying to encourage, they certainly won’t be returning. Perhaps the airport authority can look into this.
NAME AND ADDRESS WITHHELD.
Editor’s footnote: a spokesman for Guernsey Airport replies:
Guernsey Airport apologises for the experience encountered at the security screening area by your correspondent.
We understand travelling through an airport is a stressful experience for some of our passengers. Guernsey Airport would encourage those who require assistance with their journey to pre-book that assistance at the time of booking their flights. Alternatively, passengers should contact their airline 48 hours before they are due to travel to request the assistance they require. We also operate the sunflower lanyard scheme, which acts as a signpost to our staff and business partners indicating the wearer may need some extra help.
Guernsey Airport is currently working on the introduction of modern technology to promote a more efficient and less intrusive process for passengers. This is likely to include enhanced baggage screening equipment so security staff can ‘see’ a clearer image inside hand luggage, which should reduce the need to perform bag searches. As part of this tendering exercise, Guernsey Airport is looking at options for body scanners, again to reduce the need for physical searches of passengers, prior to entering departures.
Our security search standards are regularly reviewed and inspected by the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the Channel Islands Aviation Security Regulator.
The inspections that Guernsey Airport, and our security contractor are subjected to, ensure that we continue to meet UK and international regulations and standards in a compliant manner. Aviation security regulations concerning the screening and searching of passengers are there to be reasonably sure that no prohibited articles enter the restricted areas of Guernsey Airport or on board aircraft.
Additionally, all security screening equipment must meet approved UK and international standards. However, the regulations concerning screening and search processes differ and are dependent on the types of security screening equipment being used at each airport. This is why some passengers may encounter differing levels of security practice at different airports in the UK like London Gatwick, Heathrow or Manchester. Therefore, different standards of person and baggage searches may be experienced depending on the type of equipment deployed at the particular airport, although all are there to ensure that overall standards remain compliant.
We understand bag searches at security can be inconvenient. However, security staff have to ensure that no prohibited items enter the UK transport system, Guernsey Airport is working hard on getting the hardware replaced and the expansion of the security search area will now facilitate the installation of that new equipment.
If your correspondent wished to make contact with our security manager and/or security provider, they should contact us at airport@gov.gg so we might facilitate a meeting where specifics may be discussed.