Security at LHR... A true story?
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Security at LHR... A true story?
An eminent shooting man recently had the misfortune to pass through Heathrow on his way to enjoy some stalking in Austria.
Despite the record improvement in exam grades of recent years, some airport security staff still have difficulties with reading and writing. By the time the paperwork for transporting a firearm had been completed, the flight had missed its slot.
As the aircraft waited on the tarmac, security staff appeared again and hauled off our shooter to account for “loose ammunition” in his suitcase.
“There isn’t any,” he protested.
“Oh yes there is”, said the security man producing a present which our shooter was taking for his host – a pair of cufflinks shaped like tiny shotgun cartridges.
“Replica bullets,” said the security man. “They could be dangerous!”
Our distinguished shooter’s troubles are not over!
On his return from Austria he encountered a wiser and more experienced Heathrow security man, with a new recruit in tow. To whom, as the firearm was checked, he explained the technicalities.
Lifting the .303 Parker Hale with strap and telescope from its case, he sagely observed to his pupil:
“Yes, that’s a fairly standard shotgun”
Despite the record improvement in exam grades of recent years, some airport security staff still have difficulties with reading and writing. By the time the paperwork for transporting a firearm had been completed, the flight had missed its slot.
As the aircraft waited on the tarmac, security staff appeared again and hauled off our shooter to account for “loose ammunition” in his suitcase.
“There isn’t any,” he protested.
“Oh yes there is”, said the security man producing a present which our shooter was taking for his host – a pair of cufflinks shaped like tiny shotgun cartridges.
“Replica bullets,” said the security man. “They could be dangerous!”
Our distinguished shooter’s troubles are not over!
On his return from Austria he encountered a wiser and more experienced Heathrow security man, with a new recruit in tow. To whom, as the firearm was checked, he explained the technicalities.
Lifting the .303 Parker Hale with strap and telescope from its case, he sagely observed to his pupil:
“Yes, that’s a fairly standard shotgun”
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Had to endure a similar scenario at UK airport this summer. Having bought an 'Action Man' comic, at the landside newspaper shop, complete with PLASTIC handcuffs on the front, we were stopped as we passed through security. Duty security man had to check with his supervisor as to whether or not the cuffs were allowable. Whilst we waited for the super to arrive I explained to the man that if he confiscated them, I would just go to the airside shop and buy another comic for a new pair, but he couldn't understand. Eventually the super let them through anyway, having first of all played and tinkered with them in every way possible.
Title? What title?
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A couple of months ago, my daughter (4 years old) and not travelling alone, was stopped going through security at LHR T4 and made to remove the safety pin which was holding her favorite teddy in her backpack. The safety pin was literally less than one cm long and about as dangerous as a manky turnip, and certainly less dangerous than the size 10's of her pretty annoyed father ! We didnt argue though, we just got another pin from a shop airside and Amber the bear enjoyed a safe journey. Was this a normal thing to insist on removing i.e. the authorities believe that a 1cm safety pin could be used for a terrorist outrage, or was the security person concerned just having a bad day ?
Maybe airside shops need their stock checked !
Maybe airside shops need their stock checked !
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Cant agree more regarding so called security at airports - morons. It seems that now the word is out not to carry small penknives, nailclippers etc, and passengers are complying so that they don’t get nicked from them, that security guards are coming up with even more weird ‘dangerous’ items (and I use that word with incredulity). I have recently been relieved of a micrometer whilst passing through Marseilles security…. Made of metal, yes, dangerous –how exactly? What am I going to do, threaten to measure someone to death!!!! The fact that I also had a couple of bottles of Jack Daniels duty Free in a plastic bag didn’t worry them…..
The latest one was in the good ‘ole US of A last month….. 2.5mm, 4mm & 5mm Allen keys approximately 5cm long taken…….tell me someone how I can injure/maim/kill someone with something so insignificant.…..
Regards, SD..
PS And if you are wondering why I carry the above (and a few other small items) in my briefcase with me around the world; Im an Engineer & trying to find certain metric tools in certain parts of the world is impossible, so I carry them.
The latest one was in the good ‘ole US of A last month….. 2.5mm, 4mm & 5mm Allen keys approximately 5cm long taken…….tell me someone how I can injure/maim/kill someone with something so insignificant.…..
Regards, SD..
PS And if you are wondering why I carry the above (and a few other small items) in my briefcase with me around the world; Im an Engineer & trying to find certain metric tools in certain parts of the world is impossible, so I carry them.
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Upon passing through a UK regional airport recently, minus my Swiss Army knife and Leatherman that used to be in my nav bag, I was amazed to see guy in a flying suit being allowed through with one of those knives on his leg. He had lots of bages on so I could ascertain he was not a military pilot, but a Private Pilot who was wearing a flying suit. He was not even questioned about the knife.......
I queried this with the guard on duty and was informed that it was allowed as "It is part of his equipment".
Rubbish.
I would suggest my Swiss Army knife and Leatherman Tool are part of my kit, possibly to a greater extent than this guy's dagger.
What is going on?
In another incident, we had operated a flight from a Greek destination into LGW and then had to position on BA back to MAN. We therefore had to go landside to get our tickets. Upon going back airside, all the Flight Attentants had their corkscrews confiscated after a big furore. These girls had been up all night and I felt slightly sorry for the guard who'd wound them up and incurred the wrath of seven Scousers and Mancunians!
They still had to hand them over and buy new ones at their own expense.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I queried this with the guard on duty and was informed that it was allowed as "It is part of his equipment".
Rubbish.
I would suggest my Swiss Army knife and Leatherman Tool are part of my kit, possibly to a greater extent than this guy's dagger.
What is going on?
In another incident, we had operated a flight from a Greek destination into LGW and then had to position on BA back to MAN. We therefore had to go landside to get our tickets. Upon going back airside, all the Flight Attentants had their corkscrews confiscated after a big furore. These girls had been up all night and I felt slightly sorry for the guard who'd wound them up and incurred the wrath of seven Scousers and Mancunians!
They still had to hand them over and buy new ones at their own expense.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Don't tell them that most of the wings we wear have two sharp pins to go through the fabric on the shirt.
Of course, as all Brits know, any Blue Peter presenter could turn a plastic washing up bottle, a bit of Blue Tac and a polo mint into a fully working F15. Can you imagine, security let them into T4 airside, they go into a loo and come out with a fighter !!
Phnuff
I am amazed to hear that shops airside are selling safety pins.
Last year my partner and I went to Paris for the day. The zip in her jeans broke and we thought "aha safety pin". We tried all the shops and was told that they were on the banned list of items for sale. Eventually got one from a BA check in agent.
I am amazed to hear that shops airside are selling safety pins.
Last year my partner and I went to Paris for the day. The zip in her jeans broke and we thought "aha safety pin". We tried all the shops and was told that they were on the banned list of items for sale. Eventually got one from a BA check in agent.
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own goal ?
Security is a very important issue and one that we should all take a day to day interest in as the security staff at an airport should be all of us who work in aviation , however these half witts and more importantly there bosses who invent the more stupid of these rules are bringing the whole security issue into disrepute.
It is a big worry to me that very stupidity of some of the rules that pass for security are making us regard this issue with distane and therefore let down guard that we all should have.
It is quite clear to me that the only thing that the UK security industry is doing is making work for its self and the only thng that it protects is the jobs of the managment who seem to let the tabloid press set the agenda.
It is high time that the managment of security was taken away from the publicity driven MP,s and civil servants and given back to the aviation industry and the police then and only then will common sence retun.
The other thing I would like to see return is items from my cabin crews first aid kit that the unthinking idiots at BHX security have removed , an action that has not made flying safer ...quite the opposite !
It is a big worry to me that very stupidity of some of the rules that pass for security are making us regard this issue with distane and therefore let down guard that we all should have.
It is quite clear to me that the only thing that the UK security industry is doing is making work for its self and the only thng that it protects is the jobs of the managment who seem to let the tabloid press set the agenda.
It is high time that the managment of security was taken away from the publicity driven MP,s and civil servants and given back to the aviation industry and the police then and only then will common sence retun.
The other thing I would like to see return is items from my cabin crews first aid kit that the unthinking idiots at BHX security have removed , an action that has not made flying safer ...quite the opposite !
And lets not forget that whilst safety pins and plastic handcuffs are causing ulcers amongst the securtiy staff duty free in glass bottles is still being sold airside and airlines are still serving drinks in glasses. Both items could be turned into potentially lethal hand weapons in a matter of seconds.
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Pants.
Thats what I think of security. The a/c hi-jacked on 9/11 were done so with a few small knifes (think thats right). So, proving that a small weapon being brandished by a scary enough person can do just as much damage as an enormous bomb ultimately.
So lets get rid of the small weapons.
Thats obviously the solution.
And the really scary people just buy a ticket, jump on a flight, and this time do the same amount of damage with a broken china plate or a bottle of JD or a name badge etc...
Surely we can weed out the real nutters with some sort of brain scan at the check-in desk for the terrorists amoung the passengers, and for the security personnel when they clock on.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr......
Thats what I think of security. The a/c hi-jacked on 9/11 were done so with a few small knifes (think thats right). So, proving that a small weapon being brandished by a scary enough person can do just as much damage as an enormous bomb ultimately.
So lets get rid of the small weapons.
Thats obviously the solution.
And the really scary people just buy a ticket, jump on a flight, and this time do the same amount of damage with a broken china plate or a bottle of JD or a name badge etc...
Surely we can weed out the real nutters with some sort of brain scan at the check-in desk for the terrorists amoung the passengers, and for the security personnel when they clock on.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr......
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I promise this isn't a wind up, but in the US at the end of August, I saw the TSA confiscate an oversized paperclip (about 2" long) from a pax in front of me - 'because it could be straightened out and used as a weapon."
A&C makes a very sound point.
A&C makes a very sound point.
In a few hours I would be going through security in a brand new Southeastern European Airport. Just the idea of using this airport give me a headache let alone having to deal with people that believe they are emperors and Gods on earth.
I feel that they over-enjoy the sens of authority and control their job provide and they consider it an extra benefit. For a short period of time I thought about the idea of them having a target number of items to be confiscated. So they just search and search and confiscate everything they can -inventing few regulations they like to justify any actions.
I have no problems with people they are think are God provided they cause no problems to me. Unfortunately they are paid more than decent salaries from the airport taxes we pay and replacing a confiscated item costs me money.
And we only have to remember the guy who carry on board a shoe bomb despite all security checks...
I would stop here because the next thought would land me in very hot water...
Rwy in Sight
I feel that they over-enjoy the sens of authority and control their job provide and they consider it an extra benefit. For a short period of time I thought about the idea of them having a target number of items to be confiscated. So they just search and search and confiscate everything they can -inventing few regulations they like to justify any actions.
I have no problems with people they are think are God provided they cause no problems to me. Unfortunately they are paid more than decent salaries from the airport taxes we pay and replacing a confiscated item costs me money.
And we only have to remember the guy who carry on board a shoe bomb despite all security checks...
I would stop here because the next thought would land me in very hot water...
Rwy in Sight
I've had my pen type microscope (that I use in my job) liberated by security staff and I'm scared to carry nail clippers anymore incase I get arrested.....
I can eat on board with a plastic knife - yet I could stab you in the eye with the metal fork.....
I can't take a safety pin but I can beat you over the head with the duty free bottles.....
Time for a little sense?
I can eat on board with a plastic knife - yet I could stab you in the eye with the metal fork.....
I can't take a safety pin but I can beat you over the head with the duty free bottles.....
Time for a little sense?
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Thrush,
You'll be happy to know that a mate was threatened by arrest with Kiwi Customs! He arrived from Norfolk Island in his RV-6 wearing his flying suit.
It's a mil suit he's had for years and has his 20++ year old survival knife in the pocket. His 'crime' was importing an un-declared dangerous weapon into Kiwi-land. Bit hard to declare as they nabbed him as he stepped from the plane before he'd even shown tham any paperwork??
Don't we all feel safer?
G'day
You'll be happy to know that a mate was threatened by arrest with Kiwi Customs! He arrived from Norfolk Island in his RV-6 wearing his flying suit.
It's a mil suit he's had for years and has his 20++ year old survival knife in the pocket. His 'crime' was importing an un-declared dangerous weapon into Kiwi-land. Bit hard to declare as they nabbed him as he stepped from the plane before he'd even shown tham any paperwork??
Don't we all feel safer?
G'day
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I think the clever security personel should confiscate the pilots wot drive the plane cos who knows wot they could do if they managed to get to the controls......
And as for those lethal emeryboard nailfiles that the cabincrew carry.......pphhwwwooooooaaaaar.....the mind boggles.
And as for those lethal emeryboard nailfiles that the cabincrew carry.......pphhwwwooooooaaaaar.....the mind boggles.