Thank you Pprune
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Thing is for all you know the security people may have been given that order from their seniors for reasons you may not be privy to. They are just doing their jobs. There's often good reasons behind questions that seem like none of someone's business.
I often have to do stuff that would make zero sense to the 'layperson' and often get flak for it. They are more than welcome to take this up with my manager, but I'm just doing my job and could, quite possibly, lose my job if I didn't. I'd much rather NOT have to ask certain questions because of the attitude you get from it, but I dread to think how many people think I'm just being nosy, getting above my station or whatever.
It's very rarely the big conspiracy to erode our freedoms that people think it, it's normally far more mundane than that.
How about just chalking it up to a slight inconvenience and getting on with it rather than making everyone's day a little more miserable.
I often have to do stuff that would make zero sense to the 'layperson' and often get flak for it. They are more than welcome to take this up with my manager, but I'm just doing my job and could, quite possibly, lose my job if I didn't. I'd much rather NOT have to ask certain questions because of the attitude you get from it, but I dread to think how many people think I'm just being nosy, getting above my station or whatever.
It's very rarely the big conspiracy to erode our freedoms that people think it, it's normally far more mundane than that.
How about just chalking it up to a slight inconvenience and getting on with it rather than making everyone's day a little more miserable.
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How about just chalking it up to a slight inconvenience and getting on with it rather than making everyone's day a little more miserable.
The usual chaos at Stansted is not a slight inconvenience !
The usual chaos at Stansted is not a slight inconvenience !
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Not just the obvious
As Security Officers we are often asked by the Police Special Branch and Border Force/Customs to look for people/items as the general public pass thru and cash is one of those items. Customs/Police cannot be at every aisle where as security has to be so we work together.
Paxing All Over The World
Interesting information, carousel. So, depending on the pax reply, you then call the relevant person and then return to your post?
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Oh...
Now, that's just lovely, isn't it?
So we just hand out helmets, truncheons and whistles to whoever happens to be around at the time, eh?
In a former life, I preferred to see my brief as that of 'ensuring compliance' rather than 'enforcement'.
While we all worked in together, if I happened to notice something 'fishy', I'd draw it to the attention those within whose bailiwick it lied - nothing more or less.
The 'band-aid' arrangement you've referred to above, carousel, is MOST unsatisfactory and will end up in tears for somebody - hopefully not yourself.
p.s. I just noticed that PAXboy's post and mine seem to have crossed. Carry on.
Now, that's just lovely, isn't it?
So we just hand out helmets, truncheons and whistles to whoever happens to be around at the time, eh?
In a former life, I preferred to see my brief as that of 'ensuring compliance' rather than 'enforcement'.
While we all worked in together, if I happened to notice something 'fishy', I'd draw it to the attention those within whose bailiwick it lied - nothing more or less.
The 'band-aid' arrangement you've referred to above, carousel, is MOST unsatisfactory and will end up in tears for somebody - hopefully not yourself.
p.s. I just noticed that PAXboy's post and mine seem to have crossed. Carry on.
Last edited by Stanwell; 2nd Oct 2016 at 16:36.
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This is of course not meant to be personal, Carousel, so please don't take it as such; however I'm fascinated to know how the “we” - presumably security “operatives” - are trained for such interventions as those being discussed and to which you refer.
It's reasonable for passengers to assume that Security personnel are trained to screen and if necessary search those going through the security area for anything which can cause a hazard to flight and other personnel. Are Security personnel trained, one wonders, to assess how much cash or - say - travellers cheques, or even negotiable bonds are reasonable for people to be carrying? Or is what is being suggested here a “covert” way for Customs/HMRC and Border Force to have people's effects examined without declaring their direct interest?
I feel sure that the training given to Customs/HMRC and Border Force is very different from that which Security staff receive. They are - or so we thought - doing very different jobs.
It's reasonable for passengers to assume that Security personnel are trained to screen and if necessary search those going through the security area for anything which can cause a hazard to flight and other personnel. Are Security personnel trained, one wonders, to assess how much cash or - say - travellers cheques, or even negotiable bonds are reasonable for people to be carrying? Or is what is being suggested here a “covert” way for Customs/HMRC and Border Force to have people's effects examined without declaring their direct interest?
I feel sure that the training given to Customs/HMRC and Border Force is very different from that which Security staff receive. They are - or so we thought - doing very different jobs.
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rgsaero while not trained to be customs police or border force we do as you say "screen" people and in the carrying out of this we see "things" that we are told may interest other enforcement agencies we can then pass this information on to be escalated up the chain. By the by money laundering is a major crime in the UK.
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carousel
Hello,I travel about 6 months of the year. I am always careful about currency
limitations. Still I go to strange (?) places and carry US$ UK£ Euros NZ$ and
other stuff. No problems anywhere except UK. You can tell me why. BTW it is
my opinion that the main money launderers are the UK banks & 'high society'
John
limitations. Still I go to strange (?) places and carry US$ UK£ Euros NZ$ and
other stuff. No problems anywhere except UK. You can tell me why. BTW it is
my opinion that the main money launderers are the UK banks & 'high society'
John
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"By the by money laundering is a major crime in the UK."
Of course it is, Carousel!And rightly so!
There should however be clearly defined areas of competence, and limitations on the scope of what individuals, even in "official" and "security" roles may legally and properly do. That certainly pertains - as an example - with the police and Community Support personnel. I am sure you would not have it otherwise.
I hope you do not subscribe to the thesis that anyone in any "official" or "security" position should be empowered to look or act beyond their precise authority by "reporting" or advising others of their "suspicions". From such activities, which can be driven by prejudice or other motives, bodies such as the Stasi grew!In the cases as discussed here I can see no justification whatsoever for any security operative, charged with ensuring that passengers do not take proscribed items onto aircraft (or into terminal areas) for the safety of all those traveling and working, for taking any interest in my financial choices going on holiday, be that carrying cash rather than - say - many credit cards.
I recall very well traveling overseas with the "allowance" issued for business travel by Government rule. I speak of the 1950s through 1970s (Exchange Control Act 1947). Absolutely fine by me, and at passport control we were asked how much we were carrying and that was checked against the Form PP/B in the back of our Passport.It was hard to report on the Paris Motor Show on £5 per day but those were the rules!
Of course it is, Carousel!And rightly so!
There should however be clearly defined areas of competence, and limitations on the scope of what individuals, even in "official" and "security" roles may legally and properly do. That certainly pertains - as an example - with the police and Community Support personnel. I am sure you would not have it otherwise.
I hope you do not subscribe to the thesis that anyone in any "official" or "security" position should be empowered to look or act beyond their precise authority by "reporting" or advising others of their "suspicions". From such activities, which can be driven by prejudice or other motives, bodies such as the Stasi grew!In the cases as discussed here I can see no justification whatsoever for any security operative, charged with ensuring that passengers do not take proscribed items onto aircraft (or into terminal areas) for the safety of all those traveling and working, for taking any interest in my financial choices going on holiday, be that carrying cash rather than - say - many credit cards.
I recall very well traveling overseas with the "allowance" issued for business travel by Government rule. I speak of the 1950s through 1970s (Exchange Control Act 1947). Absolutely fine by me, and at passport control we were asked how much we were carrying and that was checked against the Form PP/B in the back of our Passport.It was hard to report on the Paris Motor Show on £5 per day but those were the rules!
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I'm with the OP. Its not any of security's business how much money is there, as long as they have done their job and inspected it. Ask to announce the amount in a public place is opening the pax to theft. If they insist to pass it through the x-ray i would comply, but in the method Phileas suggested.
When a pax i fully comply with security without complaint or frustration, they are doing a great job on the whole to protect us. But going beyond what is required or sensible would require a stand, although its never happened to me.
When a pax i fully comply with security without complaint or frustration, they are doing a great job on the whole to protect us. But going beyond what is required or sensible would require a stand, although its never happened to me.
That doesn't mean that they, or you, are necessarily qualified to "screen" the people they are observing, if by that you mean deploying anything more than basic common sense.
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No, carousel.
You've not necessarily been 'defeated', as you put it.
It strikes me that somebody's quietly suggested to you that, by exceeding your brief, you'll make a certain somebody else's job
a bit easier.
All you're likely to gain out of it is, perhaps, a pint at the pub - or, a very sore backside when things don't go quite as smoothly
as you'd been led to believe they would.
Be careful. OK?
You've not necessarily been 'defeated', as you put it.
It strikes me that somebody's quietly suggested to you that, by exceeding your brief, you'll make a certain somebody else's job
a bit easier.
All you're likely to gain out of it is, perhaps, a pint at the pub - or, a very sore backside when things don't go quite as smoothly
as you'd been led to believe they would.
Be careful. OK?
Paxing All Over The World
On a slightly different - but related - topic. Can I ask carousel about walking sticks? I have heard (and experienced) different attitudes to a walking stick in different countries. If a person approaches the screening area with a walking stick - what is the ruling in the UK? Thanks.
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"I'd suggest that your responsibilities in that respect are no different from any airport/airline staff, or indeed member of the public, who should of course report any behaviour that appears suspicious."
Dave's correct - simple common sense - you see someone doing soemthing illegal -report it and leave the rest to the pro's
Dave's correct - simple common sense - you see someone doing soemthing illegal -report it and leave the rest to the pro's