British Security Theatre

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Originally Posted by Bluebeard

Am I that innocent looking? I've never had any of this and I've flown between Britain and Ireland and the continent a couple of times - out of the EU on one occasion - and once intercontinentally since Easter.

The trip to the US was the only one where I'd to fill in passport details (online) or get a fingerprint and eye scan (in the US). Was this in a London airport?

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The photo check has been in place at Gatwick for at least 2 years and at Heathrow since T1 was reconfigured earlier this year. It only applies to UK & Ireland departures.

APIS (advance passenger information) is currently required by Spain and the US but the Brits are clamouring to introduce it too.

Shoe-screening in the UK is now a secondary check that only needs to be done on a random sample of passengers. It's very easy when you enter the queue to work out which lanes are shoes off at any given time and choose accordingly. Therefore illustrating what a moronic process it is.

The UK authorities also recently did a complete about turn on whether laptops need to be in or out.

The whole process is a farce. The 9-11 hijackers took over planes with a pair of boxcutters. I frequently travel with razor blades in my carry on which I could fashion into a weapon if I so chose.

I could, with my accomplices, also carry on significant quantities of liquid explosives in 100ml bottles, along with battery detanators.

Terrorism is more about engendering a sense of fear rather than purely the loss of lives. On that score, the terrorists are winning IMO.

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Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Terrorism is more about engendering a sense of fear rather than purely the loss of lives. On that score, the terrorists are winning IMO.

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Labour == Terrorists. :)

Off Topic, but along the lines of security only for show - I was going through Narita airport (Tokyo) a few years ago, and had my razor blades taken off me. Faie enough, I thought, they could possibly be used as a weapon.....then the security staff noticed I had a bottle of Shochu in my checked luggage, and told me to put it into my carry-on so it would be less likely to get broken. Now, which is more dangerous, a tiny razor blade, or the jagged glass edge of a broken liquor bottle?

Sure I collect those little 3D crystal blocks, and have brought them home in hand luggage. I was even stopped once and asked what it was; once they saw it was only a cube piece of glass with pointy edges, they let me on. Couldn't carry 100ml+ of explosives in it, so it wasn't dangerous.

And that's what happens when you pay peanuts. They have a list and they stick to the list no matter how nonsensical the situation. Like the guy in Heathrow yesterday with a nearly empty tube of suntan oil trying to explain to the idiot on the front line that the number on the container might not equate to the contents. The guy just blanked him, because he's either underpaid or a moron; the security of their nation is that important.

A few years back, post 9/11 I was flying to Atlanta in the US with my then girlfriend, she has a British Passport and mine is obviously Irish, we were going through the passport control in Atlanta and my girlfriend went through first and me second, when he asked the purpose of my visit I said Holiday and he asked if I was alone I said no, and that he had just spoken to my girlfriend, this guy then looked at me and straight faced asked, if she's your girlfriend then why do you have different passports! I was a bit taken aback and kind of sarcastically answered that we have different passports because we're from different countries, I then said that I bet my passport was different to his too....he got think and I just apologised and finally got through, then we got to the second security check in the airport and the guy there made me take all of the contents of my washbag out and spray something from each bottle on my own arm...worst airport experience ever!

In fairness the regulations are clear- if the container is for over 100ml it's not allowed. Otherwise you'd end up arguing over whether something is 90ml or 110ml. It may be a stupid system- but what made the guy in the queue think an exception should be made just for him?

Anyway, a lot of the security stuff is clearly ********. I previously carried a screwdriver on to a plane inadvertently despite the many checks done- I hate to think of the hassle I'd have had if it had been found!

This is why I didn't want to kick up a fuss in Heathrow about the photo. Because they're underpaid - or morons, let's not let that category slip away - they get thick if you slip away from their script in any way, shape or form; and they get petty if you present any sort of resistance whatsoever. Just asking a question is liable to get you sidelined.

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Originally Posted by dahamsta

This is why I didn't want to kick up a fuss in Heathrow about the photo. Because they're underpaid - or morons, let's not let that category slip away - they get thick if you slip away from their script in any way, shape or form; and they get petty if you present any sort of resistance whatsoever. Just asking a question is liable to get you sidelined.

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Just like bouncers.

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Originally Posted by thischarmingman

Just like bouncers.

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Its high visibility vest & walkie talkie syndrome

Last time I was going through Gatwick, they were taking a snow globe, brought in the feckin airport irrc, off a 2 year old (que much snots and tears, the heartless bitches)...

It's been a while since I flew into Manch (ferry is far less hassle, start to finish and just as quick) to know whether they do it there, but the last times through Heathrow and Gatwick they were doing it - just seemed like another excuse to mess people around.

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Originally Posted by Mr A

In fairness the regulations are clear

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They are, and they're idiotic, which was my point.

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Originally Posted by dahamsta

Passed through Heathrow the other day, they took my photo at the first stage, while checking my boarding pass. I asked why and the girl said rather grumpily that it's for "domestic security". I wanted to bleat at her, but it wasn't worth missing my flight for. When did this start? How long is the photo kept for?

adam

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thoughtcrime

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8303983.stm

Anybody see this? I personally would rather the pat down!