16 Birmingham Airport security staff suspended over TV programme
07.06.07
16 security staff have been suspended at Birmingham Airport after Monday night's television documentary which revealed serious security lapses. In a statement, security firm ICTS UK said the 16 staff had been suspended and will face disciplinary actions with 'dismissal a potential outcome'. The security firm's manager at Birmingham Airport has also been removed.
ITV1's Tonight with Trevor McDonald programme, aired on Monday evening, showed security staff at the airport reading papers, doing crosswords and even sleeping instead of examining passenger luggage. It also revealed failures in passenger searches and that at least one member of staff had serious criminal convictions.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.
ICTS said more experienced staff had been drafted in to the airport and a new programme of drug testing for all staff would be introduced - the first of its kind in Europe. The statement added: 'Sixteen staff have been suspended, a number of whom have been advised they will be subject to the company's disciplinary procedures, with dismissal a potential outcome.'
'ICTS's station manager at Birmingham International Airport has been replaced and we have further strengthened the workforce there by bringing in 30 staff from other airports where we operate. These staff are highly experienced supervisors, trainers, auditors and agents.'
A spokesman for the airport said that the allegations relate solely to ICTS employees. It sought to reassure passengers that its operations remain safe and meet all government security requirements, saying that the ICTS staff were 'just one level of security for passengers and planes'.
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