Regardless of whether or not the current legislation is right or wrong one of the main factors is the lack of consitsncy of how these legislations are being enforced which can make it very confusing for operational crew.
Individual airports even within the UK interoperate the regulations differently and operate different procedures although the Department for Transport are the body ensuring the enforcement of these regulations.
The inconsistency is what generates the comments and the frustration from the crews which can pass through several staff searches of various airports within the UK, Europe or Worldwide throughout the week and certainly on an annual basis.
Security is paramount and nobody can deny this however there are basic issues and flaws in the whole system. How all airport ID's have not been linked up to a single database which is easily accesible to security by all UK airports.
The paperwork envovled for a non based personel needing to attend restricted areas possibly for maintenance etc can take up to 30 mins to complete and said person still requires an escort. Surely a single database would solve this.
Regulations should not be open to individual airports/companies interpretation and no matter what airport within the UK you travel through you should expect the same searches/procedures.
It is also strange how UK also has a more stringent security regulation in comparison to individual countries within the European Union. This causes nothing but inconvenience when it comes to transit flights within the UK from even EU contries especially if passengers are joining this flight.
No consideration is taken to staff who have to work airside who simply may not be able to afford the high prices of soft drinks in the airside shops as this amounts to a lot of money (£1.80 a bottle) over a 12 hour shift. Certain canned foods that may contain sauce are also banned. Spagghetti, Beans, Soup are also banned substances. Yes you can elect to eat something with no sauce but surely staff have a right to select what they want to eat?
How come it is possible to take a crate of cans or bottles with catering to be sold in an airside shop that was delivered by a a person presenting ID or a passport with no background check on a visitor pass? Why are they deemed less of a risk than somone who has passed a CRC check and holds a valid airport ID with a single drink or a tin of soup?
Is health compromised of those that have to work in direct sunlight for long periods at risk since staff may face skin cancer for the lack of being able to bring a bottle of sun tan lotion on site? Maybe the manufacturers are now providing compliant tubes but have not looked to be perfectly honest.
Note: The security to meet politicians in official government buildings are less stringent from past experiences.
Last edited by mathers_wales_uk; 8th August 2012 at 22:29.