Airport to host security open day for minorities

Published on Tuesday 31 May 2011 16:31

Ethnic minority representatives will be invited to a security open day at Glasgow Airport to try to allay fears that they are being singled out for questioning by security staff.

Humza Yousaf MSP has been in discussions with airport authorities following claims that some ethnic minorities would rather fly from Manchester or London than face "awkward questions" at Glasgow.

Mr Yousaf said: "During the election campaign, a number of folk raised it with me. People have been stopped four or five times and asked really awkward questions like, 'How many times a day do you pray? What mosque do you go to?' or 'Does your wife wear a headscarf?'"

Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 empowers police officers to stop and question travellers at UK ports and airports without needing reasonable suspicion that the person is engaged in terrorism.

A BAA Glasgow spokesman said: "Schedule 7 checks are a police matter so we cannot comment specifically. However, we have good relations with ethnic minority groups whom we meet with on a regular basis, and we will help facilitate an open day to explain the procedures involved in the security screening process."

Mr Yousaf welcomed the airport's approach.

"There was a report that said that people from ethnic minorities are 42 times more likely to be stopped under Schedule 7 in UK airports," he said.

"From speaking to people, the situation seems to be a lot worse in Glasgow than anywhere else, to the point where some people are travelling to Manchester or London to take a flight instead.

"I spoke to one individual who has lived here for 35 years and has been stopped several times, and he now takes the train to Manchester whenever he wants to fly."