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Airport staff avoid crime checks Airport staff avoid crime checks
(about 2 hours later)
Foreign workers who work airside at UK airports do not have to undergo full mandatory criminal records checks, the BBC's Newsnight has reported. Foreign workers who work airside at UK airports do not have to undergo full mandatory criminal records checks, the BBC's Newsnight has discovered.
Since 2003, staff have been checked against UK criminal records, but offences abroad are not covered.Since 2003, staff have been checked against UK criminal records, but offences abroad are not covered.
Aviation Minister Jim Fitzpatrick has defended vetting procedures for staff.Aviation Minister Jim Fitzpatrick has defended vetting procedures for staff.
"Anybody who is able to work in a restricted zone is screened in exactly the same thorough way as any member of the public," he insisted. "Anybody who is able to work in a restricted zone is screened in exactly the same thorough way as any member of the public," he added.
After the terrorist attacks of 11 September, governments across the world pledged to make airports more secure. After the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, governments across the world pledged to make airports more secure.
In the UK, the government introduced mandatory criminal records checks for all staff working airside.In the UK, the government introduced mandatory criminal records checks for all staff working airside.
If it's good enough for pilots it should be good enough for anyone else that's working airside Jim McAuslan, Balpa To not do anything about it because it's inconvenient, it's a disgrace David DavisShadow Home Secretary
But Newsnight has discovered a serious loophole in the legislation. Foreign workers are being employed without undergoing any criminal records checks.But Newsnight has discovered a serious loophole in the legislation. Foreign workers are being employed without undergoing any criminal records checks.
The government says it would simply take too long and be too complex to check criminal records from abroad.The government says it would simply take too long and be too complex to check criminal records from abroad.
The Conservative Shadow Home Affairs Secretary, David Davis, told Newsnight: "It's astonishing given the history and, of course, the risk on the airside of any airport in the United Kingdom."
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The Newsnight report on airport securityThe Newsnight report on airport security
The Conservative Shadow Home Affairs Secretary, David Davis, told Newsnight: "Its astonishing given the history and, of course, the risk on the airside of any airport in the United Kingdom." He went on, "To not do anything about it because its inconvenient , it's a disgrace." He went on, "To not do anything about it because it's inconvenient, it's a disgrace."
The list of offences covered by a Criminal Records Check is comprehensive. Anyone who has an unspent conviction for anything from theft or criminal damage to murder or terrorism would be refused a pass airside - known as the restricted zone.The list of offences covered by a Criminal Records Check is comprehensive. Anyone who has an unspent conviction for anything from theft or criminal damage to murder or terrorism would be refused a pass airside - known as the restricted zone.
But that is not true if those crimes were carried out abroad. The Criminal Records Check only covers offences which take place in the UK.But that is not true if those crimes were carried out abroad. The Criminal Records Check only covers offences which take place in the UK.
Thousands estimatedThousands estimated
And that, says aviation analyst, Chris Yates, leaves passengers, very exposed. And that, says aviation analyst Chris Yates, leaves passengers very exposed.
"We really need to ask the question , is it now necessary to restrict employment at our airports to those people for whom we can carry out the full panoply of checks?" "We really need to ask the question, is it now necessary to restrict employment at our airports to those people for whom we can carry out the full panoply of checks?"
Around 200,000 people work airside at airports across the country. BAA would not confirm how many are foreign - though it is estimated to be in the thousands.Around 200,000 people work airside at airports across the country. BAA would not confirm how many are foreign - though it is estimated to be in the thousands.
The sensitivity of airside security was highlighted just last year. John Parkinson. the head of aviation security at the Department of Transport, told a conference that terrorists "would have the components available airside with the help of people who work there." The sensitivity of airside security was highlighted just last year. John Parkinson, the head of aviation security at the Department of Transport, told a conference that terrorists "would have the components available airside with the help of people who work there." If it's good enough for pilots it should be good enough for anyone else that's working airside. Jim McAuslan, Balpa union
And when an Al Qaeda sympathiser working airside in a shop at Heathrow was convicted of owning terrorist manuals last December, it prompted the government to launch a new review of airport security. And when an Al-Qaeda sympathiser, Samina Malik, who worked airside in a shop at Heathrow, was convicted of owning terrorist manuals last December, it prompted the government to launch a new review of airport security.
That is being headed by former Home Office official, Sir Stephen Boys Smith. That is being headed by former Home Office official, Stephen Boys Smith.
He has been taking soundings from organisations like the pilots' union, Balpa.He has been taking soundings from organisations like the pilots' union, Balpa.
One of the union's key concerns is the lack of consistent checks on staff allowed airside, as its general secretary, Jim McAuslan, explained.One of the union's key concerns is the lack of consistent checks on staff allowed airside, as its general secretary, Jim McAuslan, explained.
Anybody who is able to work in a restricted zone is screened in exactly the same thorough way as any member of the public who is travelling through our airports Jim Fitzpatrick, aviation minister
"I would suggest that if someone can't pass the test like that they shouldn't be employed airside at all. It seems pretty simple to us."I would suggest that if someone can't pass the test like that they shouldn't be employed airside at all. It seems pretty simple to us.
"If it's good enough for pilots it should be good enough for anyone else that's working airside. These checks need to be carried out on everyone.""If it's good enough for pilots it should be good enough for anyone else that's working airside. These checks need to be carried out on everyone."
In a statement, the Department for Transport said: "Attempting to check overseas records would require the co-operation of a large number of foreign countries, delays and complex comparisons of international legal systems."In a statement, the Department for Transport said: "Attempting to check overseas records would require the co-operation of a large number of foreign countries, delays and complex comparisons of international legal systems."
But a spokeswoman said the government was considering introducing checks on foreign criminal records as part of the transport review.
And she stressed that all workers, including foreign nationals, were subjected to a rigorous checking process.
"This includes having their identity and right to work verified, five years of employment history and a check of UK criminal records," she said.
"The more thorough counter-terrorist check is then required for staff at airports who work in specific security functions.
"From 2009, the government will be introducing new biometric ID cards for people who work airside in the country's airports, allowing an individual to be linked more securely to their own true identity, helping protect against crime, illegal immigration and terrorism."
'Worse than complacent''Worse than complacent'
Mr Fitzpatrick said he was still confident about the levels of security in UK airports. Under repeated questioning on Newsnight, Mr Fitzpatrick insisted the UK was not "complacent in the the face of terrorism".
"What we are able to do is to demonstrate that anybody who is able to work in a restricted zone is screened in exactly the same thorough way as any member of the public who is travelling through our airports, and in that instance we are very confident and are safe in the knowledge that they do not pose a threat.""What we are able to do is to demonstrate that anybody who is able to work in a restricted zone is screened in exactly the same thorough way as any member of the public who is travelling through our airports, and in that instance we are very confident and are safe in the knowledge that they do not pose a threat."
But not everyone shares that confidence. The Conservatives' David Davis demanded urgent action from the government. "They should immediately carry out security checks on all people currently working airside.But not everyone shares that confidence. The Conservatives' David Davis demanded urgent action from the government. "They should immediately carry out security checks on all people currently working airside.
Anybody who fails should be removed and before anybody else is employed, those security checks should be completed. And they should do that irrespective of cost and as fast as can be done - otherwise it's worse than complacent; it's reckless." "Anybody who fails should be removed and before anybody else is employed, those security checks should be completed. And they should do that irrespective of cost and as fast as can be done - otherwise it's worse than complacent; it's reckless."
But any action to close this loophole is unlikely to be immediate. The Department of Transport says it will wait for the outcome of Sir Stephen Boys Smith's enquiry and that's not expected until this summer. But any action to close this loophole is unlikely to be immediate. The Department of Transport says it will wait for the outcome of the transport inquiry, and that is not expected until this summer.