Security regulations: to flout or not to flout?

Since November 2005, passengers on planes going through, into or out of the UK have been restricted from carrying liquids in their carry-on luggage. With the exception of baby milk, all liquids in hand luggage must be in containers of no more than 100mLs and enclosed in plastic bags. Perhaps the public is exhausted with the increasing number and level of security restrictions in airports, but an increasing number of passengers are no longer toeing the line.

The managing director at John Lennon Airport in Liverpool, Neil Pakey said that many passengers are hiding their toiletries in their cabin bags. “People are trying it on - tucking stuff into the furthest corners of bags. The numbers we have to stop is increasing and [security] is taking more time.”

The problem is not confined to Liverpool either. A representative from Manchester airport concurred: “People are claiming they do not know the regulations, but there are posters and staff everywhere to tell them.”

BAA, the operator of Heathrow, Gatwsick, and Stansted airports in London stated that the level of non-compliance was ‘high.’ Even the Department for Transport recognized the problem.

Despite the problems with passengers, security restrictions are not slacking off. Earlier in the month, British airports introduced random liquid testing, pulling aside some passengers to a separate queue for an additional security procedure taking several mintues. More passengers will be subjected to those measures beginning in September.

Airport complaints are generally handled by the Air Transport Users Council. The Council has warned passengers though that being delayed at security due to a failure to comply with restrictions is a complaint that won’t be entertained. The Council chairman, Simon Evans said, “We don’t see what more airports can do. It is the passenger’s responsibility to get through security.”

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