In UK, Airport Security Staff May Face Sack

June 8, 2007
Television documentary showed staffers slacking on luggage examination duties

SOME 16 security staff have been suspended from work at a major UK airport following a television documentary which revealed serious security lapses, the company said last night.

ITV1's Tonight with Trevor McDonald programme showed security staff at Birmingham International Airport reading magazines, doing puzzles and even sleeping instead of examining the luggage of passengers checking in to board flights to the USA.

In a statement last night, security firm ICTS said 16 staff had been suspended and will face disciplinary actions with "dismissal a potential outcome".

The firm's manager at Birmingham has also been removed.

The six-month investigation led by a whistleblower ICTS employee also found planes left unguarded, poor staffing levels and luggage sent for extra checks ignored by officials.

One ICTS employee even boasted about landing his job despite having criminal convictions for grievous bodily harm and drink driving.