Security Rub Down!

[Alwaysairbus]

Went through security at LGW last night. The male (wouldn't have been too bad if it was a pretty blonde) security guard not only managed to touch my testicles and every other nook and cranny but then demanded to see my wallet and then proceded to check my money and pull out my credit cards. Having heard of arrests and pass confiscations from other staff who have questioned the legitamy of their searches i said nothing but was furious and stressed for the remainded of the night. Not good when having to certify aircraft on a night shift.

Does anyone have email address to send a complaint to? .. ie CAA / DoT. I sent my local MP an email but due to the fact she belongs to the "New labour everyones a terrorist party" don't expect a concerned reply!

[GS John]

If it isn't reported, it wont get looked at. If there's a trend with one individual .............

I'd do it two ways, first with: https://www.chirp.co.uk/reporting-EngForm.asp and secondly raise a MOR with your company. If they don't think it needs to go onto the CAA you can always choose to send it inspite of their decision.

Noticed how they have the "we expect not to get abused etc etc" notices in the search areas, never seems to be any notices on what sort of service the "customer" should expect :rolleyes:

[Mr.Brown]

Flick some water on your crotch area just before you enter the security area and while your been touched up, comment on the dirt of the toilets around the corner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:E

It doesn't stop them but the look on their face is some comfort :eek:

Also the ALAE have an online form: http://www.alae.org/index.php?p=97&pp=0&title=Questionnaires to help make the CAA aware of the problem

[driver 21]

Send an MOR to the CAA and copy in Chirp

[spannersatKL]

Deck the b@stard!:E
What possible thing can you carry in your wallet? I do not see what you have in your personal papers can be of any interest to these morons.

[primreamer]

The extending of "security" searches to include your wallet is just another boost to the power trip that some of these people are on. If they really want to look inside why not just put it through the X-ray machine once more? Your wallet usually contains very personal and priveleged information, credit cards (and their numbers), photos of your family and maybe even things like a doctors prescription. Isn't there legislation in place to protect against the viewing of personal data without your agreement? Or does that not apply where "security" is concerned? If a stranger touched up your genitals in the street you'd be entitled to deck them as spannersatKL suggested. However try that in a "security" post and your feet wouldn't touch the ground as you were escorted off the premises. Episodes like this only add to the humiliating and degrading experience that passing through "security" has become.

[smudgethecat]

At what point does a brisk rubdown become a sexual assault? might be worth lodging a formal complaint with the police, even if nothing comes of it it may make these morons think twice before touching you up for no other reason than their personal gratification

[vs69]

I thought I was special when my 'static wick' got unwanted attention the other day and now everyone else is getting some of the action...........

Seriously though it seems to be a no win situation because the minute they are outwitted (doesn't take much) they pull your ID as has been witnessed before, do not question me, heads I'm right tails you're wrong kind of attitude... Just what you need before a 12 hour night shift

[HZ123]

Security are entitled to look thru your wallet as it could conceal a power source i.e.watch or car key battery. I do not agree with them playing with your parts but unless they get more than personal most body searches are ineffective. Security is there to prevent unlawful acts against aviation from groups such as fundamentalists etc and those chaps in the papers at this time. There are hundreds of airside passholders that already support these groups as we have already witnessed so you have a lot more to be upset about methinks.

[LH2]

Excuse the intromission.

"Security" guards are simple civilians just like you and me, with as much of a right to touch you (without your permission that constitutes assault) or search your belongings. You can (and I do) refuse to be searched by a "security" guard and either ask them to call the police, or if they are uncooperative (as they are in this situation), call them yourself. Explain to the police that you are not agreeable to being searched by a civilian and request that they do it themselves. It my experience so far police officers have always gone about it in an unfailingly professional way, which makes the situation much less stressful.

Now, if you want to see in action the best, real security professionals there is to be found, I suggest you fly on El-Al. So impressive in many levels, including making you feel that they are working with you, not against you.

[spannersatKL]

HZ123 get real.....there again with an HZ handle are you from Saudi?
These people are trying to get to work to earn an honest crust of bread in an industry we used to enjoy working in. Now it has been taken over by officous prick$ who do not have aviation in their blood. They do not want to become part of a government scare campaign designed to crush any opposition to them. :mad:

What is happening about the issue that the only people in the UK who will have to hold UKID cards are Airside employees...isn't this discrimination? Introduction by the back door with out a vote in parliment and a wedge to introduce more crushing legislation? (Ahh but being Saudi you wouldn't understand democracy would you). :mad:

[NutLoose]

The one that rankles is the incident at Gatwick when a vehicle dropped off its jack and crushed a workers head, sadly he died but from what has been said security refused to let the ambulance on until it had been searched and checked :mad:

One almost feels like saying one hopes the same happen to those involved in the future, but i cannot be that callous or uncaring :mad:

[primreamer]

HZ123,
I think you're missing an important point. Alwaysairbus said that he was "furious and stressed for the remainder of the night" after this incident. When you consider the HF implications, I would say that this wasn't a good frame of mind to be in when certifying aircraft maintenance.

Airport security should be carried out in a responsible and professional manner and exist for the benefit and safety of staff and passengers alike. At the moment though there appear to be some individuals who use their "security" status for their own gratification and ego boosting, in the full knowledge that if you question them they can pull your ID.

[HZ123]

LH I do not know what airport you work at but at most mainstream UK sites if you decline to be searched you will not gain entry and I can assure the Police are not employed to search people like you. Simple as that. I have been in the industry for 40 years and it is still enjoyable. However, a number of people have died due to terrorist actions and complacency of security and governments alike. It has changed and if you cannot accept the security regeme then maybe it is time to get out.

[forget]

Security are entitled to look thru your wallet as it could conceal a power source i.e.watch or car key battery.

:p I've beaten the bastards. I hide my watch and car key batteries in my watch and car key. :ok:

[Wodrick]

I don't understand why they have to 'frisk' with a hands on search. Why can't they use a wand like the Spanish do. I regularly cause an alert walking through the scanner at Malaga and a wand search then suffices, no physical contact.
(It's usually my belt)

[OzPax1]

Thought this might lighten the mood!

http://www.userfriendly.org/cartoons/archives/08apr/uf011415.gif

:ok:

[Litebulbs]

At LGW, their are a couple of security guards, that if you go beep, you know you are going to be searched very thoroughly, especially around the belt and immediately below. But what can you do? It also stresses you out when you get a random search, when the random buzzer has not gone off. Why is it also 100% shoes off through Concorde House and Queens gate, but a random percentage through the staff route in the terminal?

Why, Why, Why!

[vs69]

Must be the red and black fleece litebulbs.......... Apparently mouth breathers are drawn towards those colours like moths to a...litebulb!

[Litebulbs]

Not red and black me, I'm not one of Dickie's Boys. It may be because I have the smell of charter about me!

[vs69]

Ah fair enuf, saw previous posts related to our outfit and assumed the worst! Nowt wrong with charter anyways!

[mini]

If the powers that be were really committed to the level of security they mouth off about, they'd fund it accordingly.

.. and then we'd see the back of these jobsworths.

In the mean time, the Budget rules.

[Alwaysairbus]

Well, the email to my MP didn't seem to hit a note for human rights... apparently she has just visited the police at the airport and observed the security measures at LGW and it seems they are looking for further measures to ensure safety for everyone... id cards and dna samples here we come along with the muted walk through x-ray machines.. watch out if you have any piercings in hidden places!

She did say that she would follow up my complaint which i'm considering but i get the feeling going any further with the complaint might cause problems in the future gaining crc's etc?

Maybe next time i should invoke AWN 47 and go home too stressed to certify... but then that would affect my livelihood and career and that again is against my human rights.

HZ, if you know of hundreds of terrorist fundamentalists working airside, then i suggest you report them... having worked as an engineer at both LHR and LGW for 22+ years, i've never got that impression. I think you may have fallen for the government fear and surprise policy which with the aid of the newspapers snowballs along until we really are in a big brother state.

One more point that was mentioned earlier in the thread about ambulances having to be searched, it seems the police vehicles don't. I've seen several just drive straight through. So there are different levels of security. Maybe extremists might want to paint up a transit van in cheques and strips, fix a flashing blue light on top, listen for a emergency call from airside and drive right on through to place their fizzy drink botles where ever they want.

[Vortechs Jenerator]

Don't be embarrassed at all. Ask him calmly and loudly if he needed to touch your genitalia quite so much during his search as no other security staff do this. Least he'll know your not a tit

[IFIX]

I used to have the same problem with one of the security guys at AMS.
After I made it clear to him that if he "activates" my static wick I expect him to finish what he started, had no more probs:}