[A-List] UK national security state

["Keaney Michael" <Michael.Keaney@xxxxxx>]

On 20 March, 2002 I wrote:

There is, of course, a separate and dirty history of long pedigree
regarding the British state's activities in Northern Ireland. This
latest case involving Special Branch may simply be another episode in 
this saga. Nevertheless, the "breach of national security" line, coupled
with yet another high profile heist at Heathrow Airport yesterday,
possibly indicates a strategy of tension being orchestrated by elements
of the British state in order to facilitate a further ratcheting of the
security apparatus.

See http://lists.econ.utah.edu/pipermail/a-list/2002-March/004986.html


Sweeping plan to boost security at UK airports
By Jimmy Burns and Kevin Done in London
Financial Times: March 22 2002

A sweeping overhaul of security at British airports in the wake of the
September 11 attacks that would transfer responsibility to a new
national government agency and extend the powers of the police is being
planned by the government.

Senior security advisers are already in talks with the Home Office and
Transport department and are urging ministers to follow the example of
US policymakers who created a new federal workforce of security
personnel in the wake of September 11.

The existing arrangements were described as "outmoded" by Assistant
Commissioner David Veness, Britain's chief anti-terrorist officer, who
added that they left the transport sector as the area "currently most
vulnerable to terrorist attack.

"There are high streets in London that provide better CCTV coverage than
parts of Heathrow," Mr Veness said.

He spoke out after two high-profile robberies at Heathrow's airside in
less than a month, which he said "raised the issue of roles and
responsibilities." The raids, he said "raised the issue of whether the
buck stops with the airlines, the airport authority, the Department of
Transport, and just where do the police fit in.

"This is outdated and does not reflect developments elsewhere post
September 11," Mr Veness said.

Mr Veness went on to stress that there remained a high level of security
in the UK against the threat of terrorist attack both from dissident
republicans and Islamic extremists.

"There is a tendency to be complacent. But that is misplaced. I would
say we are currently between one terrorist attack and the next," Mr
Veness said.

Senior security officials are particularly appalled by what they regard
as the laxity of vetting procedures of staff operating inside British
airports, and the lack of adequate coverage by CCTV.

Mr Veness said there was evidence that more security passes had been
handed out than were needed by staff at the airport. In the US baggage
screeners became federal employees and the nation's airports were put
under a single security system supervised by the department of
transport.

Currently security standards at British airports are set by the
Department of Transport and it is the responsibility of the airports,
most importantly BAA, which operates seven UK airports including
Heathrow and Gatwick, and the airlines to implement them.

He said current plans were focused on the creation of a government
agency that would oversee and manage all aspects of airport security
from baggage handling to policing inside airports.

David Blunkett, home secretary, and Stephen Byers, transport secretary
set up a working group on the issue after the first airside robbery in
February. The group is due to report this month.

Full article at:
http://news.ft.com/ft/gx.cgi/ftc?pagename=View&c=Article&cid=FT3MUVP03ZC&live=true&tagid=IXLB0PYY8CC


Michael Keaney
Mercuria Business School
Martinlaaksontie 36
01620 Vantaa
Finland

michael.keaney@xxxxxx