UK to move away from “one-size-fits-all” airport security

The Department for Transport has announced proposals to modernise the regulation of aviation security, with airports rewarded for good practice by being granted greater autonomy in security procedures. The proposals, which are subject to consultation, could spell the end for compulsory security checks such as shoes and belts being removed and laptops taken out of bags. Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond said he wanted to move away from “the current, highly prescriptive, one-size-fits-all approach where all operators run the same regime to one where industry takes a more proactive and more innovative and tailored approach to security”. Under the proposals, those operators with the “most robust systems of aviation security” would be granted “greater trust in how they deliver the specified outcomes”. Hammond said that the current system “can place significant financial burdens on the aviation industry along with inconvenience to passengers”, and added that government regulation should move from "prescribing security processes to setting security outcomes”, giving airports and airlines greater flexibility and allowing them to adopt new technology such as screening devices. But he also looked to assure passengers by saying that “the level of scrutiny by the Regulator will increase proportionately where any concerns arise about the delivery of the required outcomes”. Operators would be required to develop a Security Management System, with regular reports on performance. Earlier this week a report by the Department of Homeland Security showed that there had been over 25,000 breaches of security at US airports since November 2001 (see online news July 13). Hammond said that the proposals were “complex”, and that he would be “making extensive efforts to engage industry during the consultation process”. For more information visit dft.gov.uk. Report by Mark Caswell