Grayling irked over Scottish border checks for English travellers

The Scottish Police have confirmed that English travellers taking regional flights to Scotland are occasionally asked to produce their passports.

The situation came to light after Chris Grayling, UK’s shadow home secretary was asked to show passport identification at the Glasgow Prestwick airport, after having landed on a flight from England.

Domestic passengers are usually required to show photographic identification before boarding flights, and it is has generally been accepted that the initial check is valid at the other end of the domestic link.

However, Scottish police have admitted that have occasionally been asking passengers to produce passports when they land. The have pointed out that under the Terrorism Act of 2000, police officers are allowed to perform routine identification checks on passengers, including asking for passport identification.

The Strathclyde Police department, which oversees Glasgow Prestwick says its officers exercise this legislation proportionately. The department has stressed that the police officers are accorded specific powers requiring passengers to produce passports, under the legislation.

Grayling was reportedly one of five Conservative MPs asked to produce ID at the Scottish airport at their arrival on Wednesday. He described the procedure as “utterly and completely unacceptable” while speaking to the Daily Telegraph, and added that while he agreed security was needed, there also needs to be a balance. Grayling said the procedure amounts to another ‘border check’.

However, spokespersons for the Metropolitan police which oversee security at Heathrow and London City airports admit that it also performs identity checks for domestic passengers from time to time.