Minister calls for air security ‘selectivity’

Under the plans, airports may have greater flexibility in screening passengers.

Announcing a consultation on aviation security, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said he wanted to move away “from the current highly-prescriptive one-size-fits-all approach” at airports.

One outcome could mean that such measures as making passengers take off their shoes would be more selective.

Mr Hammond said he wanted a new regime to be one that “maintains and improves security standards but in a more efficient and passenger-friendly way”.

He said: “I therefore propose that the Government should move from prescribing security processes to setting security outcomes.

“This will give airports and airlines greater flexibility to delivery high standards of security in ways that are better integrated with their day-to-day business and designed around the needs of the passenger.”

Mr Hammond said the safety and security of passengers remained “of paramount importance to the Government” and he was proposing that all airport operators would have to have security management systems that meet to UK and EU thresholds.

Mr Hammond said he was also proposing arrangements for airports to report regularly to the Civil Aviation Authority on their performance.

He added that he wanted “staff to report on a confidential basis any concerns relating to aviation security”.

Jim McAuslan, general secretary of the pilots’ union Balpa, said he hoped any changes would help pilots.

“Pilots are part of the solution to airline security, not part of the problem. It is frankly bizarre that the professionals responsible for safely flying hundreds of passengers every day are currently treated with the same degree of suspicion as high-risk passengers.”