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| How are air travellers screened? | How are air travellers screened? |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| An alleged attempt by a passenger to blow up a transatlantic flight has thrown a fresh spotlight on air security. What measures are being taken to screen air travellers? | An alleged attempt by a passenger to blow up a transatlantic flight has thrown a fresh spotlight on air security. What measures are being taken to screen air travellers? |
| PASSPORT AND VISA CHECKS | PASSPORT AND VISA CHECKS |
| The UK is reintroducing passport and visa checks for all non-EU citizens entering and leaving the UK, as part of a wider crackdown on illegal immigration and terrorism. | The UK is reintroducing passport and visa checks for all non-EU citizens entering and leaving the UK, as part of a wider crackdown on illegal immigration and terrorism. |
| It has also spent £1.2bn on an electronic "watch-list" system for passengers after they check-in to travel to the UK. This is to alert immigration officials and police to potential suspects before they arrive. | It has also spent £1.2bn on an electronic "watch-list" system for passengers after they check-in to travel to the UK. This is to alert immigration officials and police to potential suspects before they arrive. |
| The UK Border Agency is also starting to fingerprint non-EU migrants to check against databases in other EU countries, Canada and Australia and, shortly, the US. It is also introducing ID cards for foreign nationals. | The UK Border Agency is also starting to fingerprint non-EU migrants to check against databases in other EU countries, Canada and Australia and, shortly, the US. It is also introducing ID cards for foreign nationals. |
| Technology exists to scan under clothes but there are privacy issues | Technology exists to scan under clothes but there are privacy issues |
| Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the man charged with attempting to blow up the Detroit-bound airliner, was banned from entering Britain. | Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the man charged with attempting to blow up the Detroit-bound airliner, was banned from entering Britain. |
| He was refused a visa and placed on an immigration watch-list last May after applying for a bogus educational course. | He was refused a visa and placed on an immigration watch-list last May after applying for a bogus educational course. |
| This would, in theory, have prevented him from entering the UK - but not from passing through the country, if he was in transit to another country. | This would, in theory, have prevented him from entering the UK - but not from passing through the country, if he was in transit to another country. |
| American officials have said Mr Abdulmutallab was put on one of their "long" watch-lists but was not banned from travelling. His name was on a US security watch-list of more than 500,000, known as Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (Tide). | American officials have said Mr Abdulmutallab was put on one of their "long" watch-lists but was not banned from travelling. His name was on a US security watch-list of more than 500,000, known as Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (Tide). |
| But there was apparently not enough information to include his name on the smaller Terrorist Screening Data Base (TSDB), which includes a no-fly list. This meant no concerns were raised when he bought his ticket to the US and had his passport and visa scanned. | But there was apparently not enough information to include his name on the smaller Terrorist Screening Data Base (TSDB), which includes a no-fly list. This meant no concerns were raised when he bought his ticket to the US and had his passport and visa scanned. |
| Q&A: 'Jet bomber' case | Q&A: 'Jet bomber' case |
| Attack reveals security weakness | Attack reveals security weakness |
| E-BORDERS | E-BORDERS |
| The centrepiece of the UK government's tightening up of immigration restrictions is the e-Borders scheme, which it says has screened 112 million passenger movements so far, resulting in over 4,000 arrests, and "significant counter-terrorist interventions". Officials are able to monitor people arriving in the UK through a colour coding system - a red alert means passengers are arrested on the plane. | The centrepiece of the UK government's tightening up of immigration restrictions is the e-Borders scheme, which it says has screened 112 million passenger movements so far, resulting in over 4,000 arrests, and "significant counter-terrorist interventions". Officials are able to monitor people arriving in the UK through a colour coding system - a red alert means passengers are arrested on the plane. |
| UK E-BORDER SYSTEM Scheme first piloted in 2004 but ramped up this spring100 million journey processed4,000 arrests madeAims to cover 65% of all journeys by end of 2009Aims to cover 95% of all journeys by end of 2010Hopes to be fully operational by March 2014 | UK E-BORDER SYSTEM Scheme first piloted in 2004 but ramped up this spring100 million journey processed4,000 arrests madeAims to cover 65% of all journeys by end of 2009Aims to cover 95% of all journeys by end of 2010Hopes to be fully operational by March 2014 |
| Many airlines are also being asked to send passenger lists and passport details to the UK Border Agency half an hour before departure. By the end of 2010 all commercial flights, and all rail and ferry services, will be asked to provide such lists. | Many airlines are also being asked to send passenger lists and passport details to the UK Border Agency half an hour before departure. By the end of 2010 all commercial flights, and all rail and ferry services, will be asked to provide such lists. |
| The minimum requirement is each passenger's name and all the details in their passport. | The minimum requirement is each passenger's name and all the details in their passport. |
| But the UK Border Agency has the right to ask the carrier for much more information, including their e-mail address, credit card number, car registration number and the name of the person who made the reservation. This can then be checked against immigration, customs and police watch-lists. | But the UK Border Agency has the right to ask the carrier for much more information, including their e-mail address, credit card number, car registration number and the name of the person who made the reservation. This can then be checked against immigration, customs and police watch-lists. |
| Civil liberties campaigners have raised concerns about the scheme but officials say they will only ask for more detailed data on high-risk routes. | Civil liberties campaigners have raised concerns about the scheme but officials say they will only ask for more detailed data on high-risk routes. |
| BANNED LIST | BANNED LIST |
| Since August 2005, the UK government has been able to exclude people from entering on the grounds that they have been engaging in "unacceptable behaviour" - 105 people have been excluded in this way, a small number of whom have been publicly named by the Home Office. | Since August 2005, the UK government has been able to exclude people from entering on the grounds that they have been engaging in "unacceptable behaviour" - 105 people have been excluded in this way, a small number of whom have been publicly named by the Home Office. |
| The list includes 73 people excluded for "fomenting, justifying or glorifying terrorist violence", two people excluded for "seeking to provoke others to terrorist acts", 21 individuals excluded for "fomenting other serious criminal activity or seeking to provoke others to serious criminal acts"; and nine people excluded for "fostering hatred which might lead to inter-community violence in the UK". | The list includes 73 people excluded for "fomenting, justifying or glorifying terrorist violence", two people excluded for "seeking to provoke others to terrorist acts", 21 individuals excluded for "fomenting other serious criminal activity or seeking to provoke others to serious criminal acts"; and nine people excluded for "fostering hatred which might lead to inter-community violence in the UK". |
| LIQUID SCANNERS | LIQUID SCANNERS |
| Restrictions are still in place at UK airports on liquids that can be carried on board planes, after the discovery three years ago of a plot to blow up transatlantic airliners. Many European airports are trialling scanners capable of detecting liquid explosives, which may eventually remove the need for restrictions. | Restrictions are still in place at UK airports on liquids that can be carried on board planes, after the discovery three years ago of a plot to blow up transatlantic airliners. Many European airports are trialling scanners capable of detecting liquid explosives, which may eventually remove the need for restrictions. |
| 'Quick test' for airport liquids | 'Quick test' for airport liquids |
| FULL BODY SCANNERS | FULL BODY SCANNERS |
| Some experts believe the type of explosive allegedly concealed under Mr Abdulmutallab's clothing would have been detected by the millimetre-wave or full body scanners increasingly being used at major airports - including Amsterdam Schipol, which was visited by Mr Abdulmutallab en route to Detroit. | Some experts believe the type of explosive allegedly concealed under Mr Abdulmutallab's clothing would have been detected by the millimetre-wave or full body scanners increasingly being used at major airports - including Amsterdam Schipol, which was visited by Mr Abdulmutallab en route to Detroit. |
| But not everyone has to pass through the machines - particularly if they are in transit from another country as Mr Abdulmutallab was - due to concerns about cost and time delays. | But not everyone has to pass through the machines - particularly if they are in transit from another country as Mr Abdulmutallab was - due to concerns about cost and time delays. |
| LIQUID RESTRICTIONS No liquid in containers larger than 100ml - excluding essential medicines "Liquid" includes drinks, syrups, creams, mascara, gels and pastes All items should go in a clear 20cm square plastic bag | LIQUID RESTRICTIONS No liquid in containers larger than 100ml - excluding essential medicines "Liquid" includes drinks, syrups, creams, mascara, gels and pastes All items should go in a clear 20cm square plastic bag |
| There are not thought to be any full body scanners at Lagos airport where Mr Abdulmutallab's journey began, although he should have passed through metal detectors and his luggage should have been scanned. Lagos airport has had a reputation for lax security but recently passed two international security tests. | There are not thought to be any full body scanners at Lagos airport where Mr Abdulmutallab's journey began, although he should have passed through metal detectors and his luggage should have been scanned. Lagos airport has had a reputation for lax security but recently passed two international security tests. |
| The full body scanners, which produce "naked" images of passengers, remove the need for "pat down" searches. But they have also raised concerns about privacy, with campaigners saying they are tantamount to a "strip search". | The full body scanners, which produce "naked" images of passengers, remove the need for "pat down" searches. But they have also raised concerns about privacy, with campaigners saying they are tantamount to a "strip search". |
| In the UK, the machines are currently being trialled at Manchester airport after tests at Heathrow airport from 2004 to 2008 and the government has said it "intends to be at the cutting edge of this new technology". They are also being rolled out across the US, with 40 machines used at 19 airports. | In the UK, the machines are currently being trialled at Manchester airport after tests at Heathrow airport from 2004 to 2008 and the government has said it "intends to be at the cutting edge of this new technology". They are also being rolled out across the US, with 40 machines used at 19 airports. |
| Through-body X-ray systems are also available at a small number of airports, and these are thought to be more effective as suicide bombers can hide explosives in their bodies, security expert Philip Baum told the BBC. | Through-body X-ray systems are also available at a small number of airports, and these are thought to be more effective as suicide bombers can hide explosives in their bodies, security expert Philip Baum told the BBC. |
| 'Naked' scanner in airport trial | 'Naked' scanner in airport trial |
| SPECIAL SCREENING | SPECIAL SCREENING |
| Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) - the type of explosive allegedly being carried by Mr Abdulmutallab - could have been detected by swabbing passengers' bags for traces of explosives. | Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) - the type of explosive allegedly being carried by Mr Abdulmutallab - could have been detected by swabbing passengers' bags for traces of explosives. |
| This method is used at major airports, including Schiphol, but only on passengers who attract special scrutiny. | |
| "Puffer" machines that blow air on a passenger to collect residue may also detect such material - and trained bomb sniffer dogs may also have worked. | "Puffer" machines that blow air on a passenger to collect residue may also detect such material - and trained bomb sniffer dogs may also have worked. |
| Some experts argue that instead of forcing all passengers through full body screening or swabbing, which would increase costs and lead to unacceptable delays, behavioural experts should be used to identify individuals for special screening. | Some experts argue that instead of forcing all passengers through full body screening or swabbing, which would increase costs and lead to unacceptable delays, behavioural experts should be used to identify individuals for special screening. |
| This already happens at some US airports and, according to security experts, Schipol airport. There are calls for them to be deployed in the UK but concerns have been raised about racial profiling. | This already happens at some US airports and, according to security experts, Schipol airport. There are calls for them to be deployed in the UK but concerns have been raised about racial profiling. |
| Earlier this month, documents accidentally posted on the internet by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) suggested individuals from 12 countries - Cuba, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen - are singled out for special screening, unless they have been specifically cleared. | Earlier this month, documents accidentally posted on the internet by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) suggested individuals from 12 countries - Cuba, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen - are singled out for special screening, unless they have been specifically cleared. |
| The documents also say that prosthetic devices, medical dressings, wheelchairs, scooters and surgical footwear may be exempt from screening for explosives at certain times and that screening procedures may be reduced to 25% of normal levels during busy travel periods. | The documents also say that prosthetic devices, medical dressings, wheelchairs, scooters and surgical footwear may be exempt from screening for explosives at certain times and that screening procedures may be reduced to 25% of normal levels during busy travel periods. |
| Security experts warned that the document could be exploited by terrorists - but the TSA insisted the information was out of date and the public was not in danger. | Security experts warned that the document could be exploited by terrorists - but the TSA insisted the information was out of date and the public was not in danger. |
| US airport checks posted online | US airport checks posted online |