Security -of employment
Look, it's not about needles or nailclippers, belts or smelly shoes. The secuirty regime is about how the regulated pricing structure works and how Airports make money.
The regulator allows BAA to make a level of return on their investment in airport infrastructure. This includes the machines and staffing costs (uniforms training etc. etc. ) i.e the more they spend the more they can recover through airport charges - up to a point. And how can airlines suggest that lower security provision is a good thing?
As BAA were found to have under invested in security and have a track record of failures in this department they decided to go OTT in making up for past indiscretions - with the full backing of DfT, CAA et al. One of the biggest problems for BAA is mixing arriving and departing passengers - a move they adopted to maximise retail revenues.
So, next time you are being castigated for forgetting that bottle of Evian from the day before nestled in the bottom of your bag. Don't feel guilty that you may look like a terror suspect. Feel proud that you are keeping some pretty grumpy individuals in a uniform and a job. And let's be realsitic - what else could they do?
The secuity comb is a simple deterrent and a means of allying fear in some pax. Unfortunately, the way it is managed seems to piss everyone off and give the impression that any tom dick or harry with a toothpick and a bottle of water is a threat to national security.
Oh, and why do the operatives as ALL airports stand and chat about their personal life, disputes with colleagues and what they are going to eat for supper whilst they should actually be paying a bit more attention to getting the job done?
The sad fact is that there is no end of equipment available airside to any terrorist, acting alone or with others, that would allow them to potentially disrupt any flight or worse. At LGW, between Boots, WDF, harrods and Dixons, I am sure any one with some knowledge and practical skills could probably cause much more havoc on an aircraft than someone wielding a pair of nail scissors! Incidentally, evena rolled up in lfligt magazine is a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands! Beware the meals, they are lethal too!