No disciplinary action after airport security lock-down
Friday 15th February 2013, 4:00PM GMT.
Airport security is to be tightened following the recent alert.
AIRPORT security has been tightened, but no disciplinary action taken after an unlocked aircraft and open perimeter gate triggered an early morning security lock-down, it has been confirmed.
Officials have now concluded an investigation into the incident on Monday 28 January, which caused long delays for hundreds of passengers.
A statement released yesterday said the airport had made a number of changes to airline staff access arrangements and further action was being implemented.
‘The airport has moved to improve the timeliness and content of its information releases immediately following an incident,’ it said.
‘Thankfully, such disruptions are rare but for obvious good reason, our attention must always remain primarily focussed on passenger safety.’
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Saturday 25 May
- Plane crash pollution
- The Week - Action man Ben Fogle
- Yvonne Ozanne
- Herm Beer Festival
- Sport - 50 days to Island Games
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
Useful Links
What a shock, who’d have ever thought that nobody would be held to account?
Report abuse
I’m not surpised Phil!
Let’s roleplay:-
Scenario: You work for a bank and are in charge of locking up everynight. One day you are so distracted by checking the TIG forum you forget to lock it when you go home. What action do you expect to be taken against you?
A) None
B) Keys taken away and sent to the postroom
C) THE SACK!
It’s like a personality test, if you answered A then you are probably a States employee.
Report abuse
Can I suggest a fourth possible answer mrsp:
D) Promotion
By adding that one you will really have them scratching their heads.
Report abuse
Martino – I can’t believe I forgot that one!
States Employee – I don’t work darhling!
And I am talking about an individual. Obviously one person is responsible, not all of you.
So answer the question, if it was you that forgot to lock the bank, our airport or Daddy’s Porsche, what would you expect to happen?
Maybe there is an answer ‘E’ that has eluded the rest of us?
I don’t know you so I can well believe you are thoughtful and considerate but accountable? Just the last few day’s worth of nonsense proves otherwise.
Report abuse
isn’t it slightly presumptuous of you to assume it was a states employee who left it open. Oh, hang on, your whole sorry, tired, and frankly stupid point fails without that one assumption. So your evidence of that fact is….
Report abuse
I would be more inclined -rather than making sweeping judgements about a whole group- to judge the individual.
I would conduct my own analysis of your personality, but that would be thoughtless and belittling of me. I am sure your last post was an error of judgement, rather than a indicator of your personality as a whole.
I pray that you never make a mistake in your line of work.
A thoughtful, considerate and accountable States Employee.
Report abuse
This whole security rumpus is a laugh.
Anyone can climb over the “security” fencing that is around the airport perimeter.
Who needs a security pass?
Who`s there to check after the airport closes down at night? Wasn’t there someone who drove a racing car down the runway some time ago?
Report abuse
It should be clear from the report in the GP mrspinthepantry, that it was not a civil servant who was responsible as the tightening of security has taken place for the airline staff access! Do not be so harsh on a group of individuals that are not responsible, please get your facts right before banging on against a group of people who perform a valuable role in maintains and providing services for the local community!!
Perhaps the airline involved is taking their own internal disciplinary action against the person who was responsible? May already have happened for all we know, especially when it has been reported that they are downsizing their operation and staff have been told they are to lose their jobs!! Has this been asked of the airline? Their spokespersons quotes seem very PR and not appreciative of the local factors involved.
Becks makes a good point, in that one can climb over some of the airport perimeter fence, but what is the alternative? 2 metre high security fencing all around the airport, as Jersey installed a couple of years ago and at great expense and public outcry with questions asked in their States? Do we really need that? What do you think?
What has happened has happened and we have been reassured by the airport Director that security has been reviewed and tightened so let’s trust that this type of security breach does not happen again!
Report abuse
Dell
This matter is now closed and security increased against further incidents occuring.
One question i ask is does the airline companies have access to the security gates besides the airport authorities own paid staff.
Report abuse
Islander,
How can the matter of airport security be closed when ANYONE can jump a fence, walk to an aircraft and sabotage/vandalize it and walk away again.
Security has to be TOTAL and cannot be partial or it`s pointless.
Report abuse
I refer you back to my question about the fences Becks, you would be in agreement with the expense to provide ‘total’ security then?
Report abuse
In answer to your point I`ll ask you a question.
Are you prepared for the waste of time, money, passenger frustration and bad publicity for the Island Tourism (that`s a laugh on it`s own) when some drunk on a night out finds it fun to climb the fence, walk to a plane with a can of spray paint and put a tag on it causing the airport to close for hours while the airport security and police checks the whole area out for terrorists?
Just think of the scenario if it was a package left under an aircraft and the bomb disposal team had to be called in and ALL aircraft and premises had to be checked out.
Even I could do that and I`m a pensioner.
A few of those and the larger security fencing would be a small price to pay.
Here`s another point of security that is TOTALLY POINTLESS.
You cannot take any liquids through the security screening but you can buy it at the duty free shops inside the airport on the other side of the screening. Is there any routine check on the contents of bottles sold there? The bottles are probably delivered to the airport through unsecured doors by drivers with no security clearance who deliver the same goods to the shops near the airport. The shipment will have had no content checks at the wholesalers depot, delivery company or the airport retailers so what is the point of the ban on liquids at one security desk?
All sorts of far more serious scenarios could be thought up by any would be “terrorists” and unless someone can guarantee these or others can be discovered before boarding a plane then only THE BEST security available can be provided to try to outsmart anyone with bad intentions.
As I said, security MUST be TOTAL or it`s pointless.
HAPPY AND RELAXED TRAVELLING EVERYONE.
Report abuse
Dell the open aircraft was only part of this, what about the open gate? That was airport staff surely?
As for being “reassured by the airport Director that security has been reviewed and tightened” didn’t they say that after the sleepy drunk guy went for a bit of a wander about and found our unlocked airport terminal was a great place for a nap?
Report abuse
If it was airport staff who were lax, why tighten access arrangements for the AIRLINES staff access? Surely that is saying that it was AIRLINE staff who did not secure the gate? That is how I interpret what has been reported.
Report abuse
Dell
Forget the plane door and concentrate on airport security.
Security should be in practice 24/7 at airports/harbours.
It is the responsibility of the security members of staff to open and close gates and not allowing anybody into these areas without supervision.
OK anyone can enter the airfield by climbing fences but patrolling and cctv is put in place to restrict or minimise dangers of vandalism or damage to the customers and staff using these areas.
Report abuse
I am in total agreement with all that you say islander, but there will be a cost and are the States/PSD prepared to pay what’s needed to provide that level of reassurance? I would suggest not, buts lets wit and see!
Report abuse
Dell
This is common practice in the Uk to saveguard the wellbeing of top security at harbour and airports.
It is costly but benefical this day and age with illegal migrants entering our island,vandelism at harbours[toilets]carparks.
Shift security duties is not expensive if you balance the cost against the unsecured.
There are many states employees that could be trained or a private firm undertaking these duties
Report abuse