I have worked at one of the major airports in New York recently, as I was there on a temporary basis I had to get a temp pass for the ramp. This was easy enough with the correct paperwork, but involved going through a full screening/security point with x-ray of bag etc, ust to get to the office to get the pass. Once holding the pass, back out the way I had just come, back into a public area, then down a nearby corridor and out onto the airside ramp, only security was a chap who was not really interested but was briefly checking passes, but no facilities at all for xray etc of my bag.
Now onto a mjor London airport, if an engineer walks through the terminal staff entrance to work airside, he cant take a metal fork with him to eat his dinner, (although they are available on the aircraft) but he can take his tools box with a knife in or a leatherman as it is 'tools of the trade'. Shows what a total joke airport security is.