Slim Shady, you questions a good one of which originally I'm sure their was a very valid answer. However over time the plot has been lost and security nowadays is there to protect the employment of the people who failed miserably to get any stars in Micky D's.
It has nothing to do with security now and everything to do with money and a business plan. Thats from the top to the bottom. It really is a golden moneyspinner, fed on fear and devised to make the general public "think" they're safe. A window dressing exercise comes to mind.
The escapade at STN this week just highlights how ineffective these security people (I use the word in its broadest possible terms and really mean muppets) can secure anything.
I pass through their banal routine daily and quite often travel round to other airports, the standards are totally different depending on where you go but at STN they excel in making it as miserable process as possible.
Many things are secure, prisons, government installations, military enclosures including bases etc and all of them survive on one basic requirement. To look at the fence and make sure nobody gets in OR out! This is done by patrolling said perimeter fences and being observent. Not sat on you arse gassing about who did what to whom last night or moaning about other collegues (see above)/ managers/passengers/staff/money or anything else this sad and miserable bunch find to whinge about whilst frisking you. For every checkpoint/scanner there are normally at least x6 security staff whinging, why not kick x4 outside to go for a little walk around the fence (thats 4 from EVERY checkpoint) and we'd probably have a more secure enviroment. Their would certainly be a lot less whinging in earshot of anyone and think of the health benefits to the staff. Good employers should always think of the health of there staff
Of course its cold out there, dark too. Do what us engineers do. Invest in warm thermals, warm clothing, wooly hats and gloves and move about. Gets the blood circulating and gets you warm. Ok, Its not as nice as being in a nice warm terminal giving all and sundry crap but if you don't like it................... jog off to Burger King!
If we must be saddled with these muppets in their ever increasing number at least make them perform a task they're capable of, (ie.walking with your eyes open?) and let the rest of us get on with our jobs albeit flying or fixing the multi million pound machines to allow our ever adoring public to travel safely and without the worry that the pilot or engineers been given so much aggro getting into work his mind is distracted to the point where safety could be compromised.
Thats all we ask isn't it???
And just what is security in place to secure or protect anyway ????????