BAGGAGE staff at airports including Liverpool’s are a terror risk because they escape criminal record checks abroad, a study has warned.
Now Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has ordered all new recruits in key airside posts to be properly checked before the end of the year to tackle the “insider threat”.
In the future, even airport staff in less sensitive positions – such as shop and restaurant workers – may face the background probes.
The alarm has been raised in a review of personnel security by former civil servant Stephen Boys Smith, ordered by Ms Kelly late last year.
It follows fears that, while physical security at airports and ports has been beefed up in the wake of the 2005 London suicide bombings, screening of staff has lagged behind.
At present, staff are checked by both the Liverpool-based Criminal Records Bureau and undergo a counter-terrorism probe by the security services. But those recruited from overseas – or who have worked abroad – are only checked by the security services, because, until now, it was thought that foreign criminal record checks were inadequate anyway.
In his report, Mr Boys Smith warned: “The insider threat is varied and unpredictable.
“Personnel security measures therefore must mirror this in terms of flexibility and adaptability.
“Terrorists who are intent on causing harm will seek to exploit any gaps in security. It is important a firm’s employees do not become its weak point.”
A Department for Transport (DFT) spokesman said concern focused on two sets of workers:
Baggage staff who screen luggage – who are in a position to let a bomb through, or slip explosives into luggage.
Staff with responsibility for issuing airside passes – who could let a terrorist through.
The spokesman said: “The report says there is no cause for immediate concern, but there is scope for improvement.”
Theresa Villiers, the Conservative transport spokeswoman, said the report’s conclusions “paint a disturbing picture of the state of transport security in the UK”.
In common with other airports, Liverpool John Lennon has been given a security upgrade in recent years, including the building of a secure room in which to lock up suspicious passengers until their documents have been cleared.
The move followed the Daily Post’s expose of how the lack of a detention room – coupled with a staffing crisis – allowed passengers to abscond at a rate of one every two days.
