Jobsworth or too keen?
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Jobsworth or too keen?
For reasons that will be obvious I shall be a little vague on details on this account.
A few days ago I assisted my employers with some dog training at a BAA airport which needed me to carry some "interesting" subtances in a rucksack.
Part of this required me to join a line of people going to central search, although the plan was that the dog should find me before going anywhere airside.
Up steps one BAA male
BAA "Sorry you can only take one bag through"
Me "I'm not going though to airside, I'm part of the security exercise", while showing my ID card and pointing to the nearby black Lab and handler.
BAA "You can only take one bag, you will have to put one in the other."
Me "Can't do that." Again showing the ID card.
In the end it took three of us to explain what I was doing and the intervention of a uniformed officer.
What was good about the day was that in other parts of the exercise, which needed myself, and others, placed into check-in queques at various times and we explained to the people that it wasnt queque jumping and they were silently very supportive.
A few days ago I assisted my employers with some dog training at a BAA airport which needed me to carry some "interesting" subtances in a rucksack.
Part of this required me to join a line of people going to central search, although the plan was that the dog should find me before going anywhere airside.
Up steps one BAA male
BAA "Sorry you can only take one bag through"
Me "I'm not going though to airside, I'm part of the security exercise", while showing my ID card and pointing to the nearby black Lab and handler.
BAA "You can only take one bag, you will have to put one in the other."
Me "Can't do that." Again showing the ID card.
In the end it took three of us to explain what I was doing and the intervention of a uniformed officer.
What was good about the day was that in other parts of the exercise, which needed myself, and others, placed into check-in queques at various times and we explained to the people that it wasnt queque jumping and they were silently very supportive.
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Personally, I don't blame him much if at all. He can't be blamed for pointing out rules to someone where they are being flouted - what would other pax think about the rules otherwise?
When doing security checks / training, the use of it all is mitigated by telling people in advance what is happening. IMHO what should have happened here is that you should have only been given one bag to carry through in the first place (or was the fact that you had 2 bags meant as a clue to the dog handler?), in which case WTF?
When doing security checks / training, the use of it all is mitigated by telling people in advance what is happening. IMHO what should have happened here is that you should have only been given one bag to carry through in the first place (or was the fact that you had 2 bags meant as a clue to the dog handler?), in which case WTF?
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The reason I had two bags was that I did not expect to be joining that line and was unable to leave it elsewhere, someone might nick it 
Also having two bags is also good for the training as the dog may have no problem in getting a wiff but then might want to give up when he/she doesnt get the right bag and therefore doesnt indicate to the handler. The handler would not really notice how many bags you have he/she is watching the dog and its reactions.
In fact agree with both areas of the replies. I can understand why he did it but why did it take so long for the message to get to him?
Also having two bags is also good for the training as the dog may have no problem in getting a wiff but then might want to give up when he/she doesnt get the right bag and therefore doesnt indicate to the handler. The handler would not really notice how many bags you have he/she is watching the dog and its reactions.
In fact agree with both areas of the replies. I can understand why he did it but why did it take so long for the message to get to him?
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Hang on just a minute, crew have valid IDs and can't take tothpaste to work with them! You're conducting a security exercise and are somehow above all this!
I agree that ID should give some 'priviledge' but the fine men and women of security are employed just because they are unable to make these fine distinctions. Indeed their, allegdly educated, management are unable to either, so what hope for the future? I sympathise with your predicament but this is the situation we now find ourselves in. Unfortunately, contrary to the fine scene in Blackadder, security is a dirty word!!
I agree that ID should give some 'priviledge' but the fine men and women of security are employed just because they are unable to make these fine distinctions. Indeed their, allegdly educated, management are unable to either, so what hope for the future? I sympathise with your predicament but this is the situation we now find ourselves in. Unfortunately, contrary to the fine scene in Blackadder, security is a dirty word!!
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But he was never intending to go airside, he was never going to reach the security "gate" just going to be in the queue. It's not bloody rocket science.
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How is the security officer supposed to know the intentions of the offender?
If I were in his postition I too would want clarification from a third party.
Wonder how this thread would be entittled if mr. security let him through and later found it was no exercise but something far more serious.
If I were in his postition I too would want clarification from a third party.
Wonder how this thread would be entittled if mr. security let him through and later found it was no exercise but something far more serious.
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Read the post!!
Fair enough that the security chap questioned it in the first place, as long as he didn't try to actually insist that he goes through airside there is no problem and the explanation should have been satisfactory.
Fair enough that the security chap questioned it in the first place, as long as he didn't try to actually insist that he goes through airside there is no problem and the explanation should have been satisfactory.
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good on him doing his job to the letter
it sounds to me like you think he is doing wrong
well no the rules are the rules
what would other pax have said if they had seen you with 2 bags
when they have been told only one
it sounds to me like you think he is doing wrong
well no the rules are the rules
what would other pax have said if they had seen you with 2 bags
when they have been told only one
Psychophysiological entity
I'm confused...more than usual that is. If our man with the two bags full of norty things, had put one into the other, I gather that the jobsworth would have let him continue. How helpful is that?
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When one of your loved ones does not come home because a terrorist with stolen ID gets through with two bags what would you say to the ‘Jobs Worth” ?
This exercise should have been planned more carefully to ensure that you would not be felled at the first hurdle.
Next time PPPPP?
Please tell me that our security people are smarter than this example seems to suggest.
This exercise should have been planned more carefully to ensure that you would not be felled at the first hurdle.
Next time PPPPP?
Please tell me that our security people are smarter than this example seems to suggest.
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Now you know what it's like having to deal with the 'security' staff!
Never mind right or wrong, never mind common sense, never look for an exception to THE RULES.
What did you expect, Initiative?
Never mind right or wrong, never mind common sense, never look for an exception to THE RULES.
What did you expect, Initiative?
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Chill out...
Despite the bl**dy terrorists having made travel a pain in the rear with seemingly ridiculous security measures being enforced it falls to all of us who travel, passengers and crew alike, to accept that this is for the good of 'all' who travel. Trying to buck the system to run a 'training' exercise is short sighted and stupid. Terrorists do lie sometimes (shock horror and surprise to some I know) and ID's are easily faked. Don't knock the security guys, they are only doing their job, and thankless it is too I should imagine!! Prior effective briefing would have aleviated this issue and you and your 'employers' would have had a smooth/er ex.
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Welcome to the daily frustration we all have going through security. I could argue until I am blue in the face about having to take my shoes off, or my belt, when I am the one flying the aeroplane!! Do I need a pair of nail scissors to crash the jet, I think not. Unfortunately this is now the state of play. You are by no means the only one frustrated with it. Common sense somehow does not come into it,
