Predictably predictable

The following sounds wise to me. Unfortunately, the US majors on the cookie cutter.

“There has to be an element of not being sure what security you are being subjected to. Most attacks on aviation are well reconnaissanced and well planned. If you have a consistent security system around the globe it is quite easy to reconnoitre that and predict it.”

Mr Hutcheson was speaking ahead of a security conference by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, a UN body, in Geneva.

He has backed more sophisticated techniques including “behavioural detection” which has already been tested by BAA at its six airports: Heathrow, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Stansted.

This has seen key BAA staff trained to look out for unusual behaviour by passengers while they are waiting for a flight in the airport terminal.

Mr Hutcheson wants airports to be given greater freedom to draw up their own security arrangements. - telegraph.co.uk

(Brad)

Update on November 29, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Drudge Fought the TSA…and Drudge Won?

Comments

[Matt]

When you say "the US majors on cookie cutter" do you mean the public or the TSA?

I have read in several complaint articles that most people are frustrated with the unpredictable nature of the screening process. I have also read that the TSA is trying to avoid a pattern in selecting people for scans for the very reason of making the "system" harder to beat. In most cases it seems like the complaints of US people are the biggest obstacle and not the TSA.

Look at it this way, do you think that if the TSA were to say they were "trained to look out for unusual behaviour" that it wouldn't get complaints going about profiling? Or how about asking people to get to the airport 3 hours in advance like others do so they have the time for interviews?

[Brad]

I mean that given the sheer size of the TSA bureaucracy we probably wouldn't be very good at any really clever "unpredictable" approach. Rightly or wrongly I'm afraid that we would equate any additional TSA unpredictability with incompetence or needless hassle.

[Frank II]

The TSA has thousands of Behavioral Detection Officers who walk around the terminal and watch people waiting on security lines. They are supposed to point out people they believe may be suspicious. They are also trained to start up "friendly" conversations wtih them.

Only one problem, except for having to show them your boarding pass, you don't legally have to answer any questions. They can ask all they want but you are not required to answer. it's those who are generally nervous, try to answer, and get more flustered, who they pick out for serious questioning. If you politely refuse to answer questions, there is nothing they can do.

Most U.S. citizens also don't realize they don't have to answer any verbal questions put to them by immigration once their passport has been verified nor do they have to answer any questions with customs other than those on the customs form filled out prior to arriving. With immigration, they can't deny you entry into your own country. It's illegal. With customs, they can search you and your belongings but you are not required to answer any further questions unless you are admitting bringing extra goods or money into the country.

We have more rights to privacy in this country than anywhere else.