A few years ago I watched someone 'exempt' himself from airside security by showing his warrant card. He was dressed in cyclists' lycra, had a cycling helmet on his head and his front wheel under his arm. I later found out he was Special Branch and he commuted to work like that and changed into a suit in his airside office. So as he was on his way to work he wasn't even on duty, surely an abuse of the system?
I accept there might sometimes be genuine operational reasons for warrant holders to be exempt but the main reason for them stoutly defending their exemption is that it's an excuse for them to jump the queue and avoid the hassle that everybody else has to put up with every day.
I understand that this exemption is currently being reviewed by the Government. Good.