Muslims to be 'profiled' and targeted by airport security

Published on Tuesday 5 January 2010 21:15

TRAVELLERS using UK airports could be searched according to their race, age and gender, in a major ramping-up of security following the attempted Detroit plane bombing.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson indicated he was considering controversial passenger profiling techniques as he announced that all UK airports had to have "explosion trace detection equipment" by the end of the year.

He said the new technology would be one of a range of security measures to be introduced.

The equipment consists of a cloth swab on the end of an electronic wand that is used to check travellers and their luggage before it is inserted into a machine that can detect traces of explosives.

The system is already in use in some airports, but will be rolled out to all airports across the UK.

Other measures include the introduction of body scanners at Heathrow by the end of the month and more sniffer dogs at airports – moves that will prolong delays for travellers.

The controversial prospect of people's ethnic backgrounds being taken into account was raised when Mr Johnson disclosed that he was looking at "additional targeted profiling".

The Home Secretary said: "We are examining carefully whether additional targeted passenger profiling might help to enhance airport security.

"We will be considering all the issues involved, mindful of civil liberties concerns, aware that identity-based profiling has its limitations, but conscious of our overriding obligations to protect people's life and liberty."

But Shami Chakrabarti, director of civil rights group Liberty, said ethnic profiling would be "dangerous, self-defeating and downright irresponsible".

She went on: "Has no-one noticed the terrorists' ability to capitalise on discrimination or the recruits from a range of different backgrounds?

"Whether on the street or at the terminal, suspicious behaviour is a sensible basis for search by policing professionals. Race or religion is not."

Mr Johnson addressed MPs as the Commons sat for the first time since Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly attempted to ignite explosives stored in his underwear on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day.

The Home Secretary said a code of practice would be drawn up for the use of body scanners, which will be introduced first at Heathrow and then installed in other airports.

Mr Johnson also announced an urgent review of the "robustness" of the UK Border Agency's watch list. Abdulmutallab was added to the list following a failed attempt to get an entry visa to the UK last year.

On Monday, Downing Street revealed that intelligence on Abdulmutallab had been passed to the US authorities before the Detroit incident. That revelation prompted suggestions of a rift between Gordon Brown and the White House, and increased pressure on US security agencies to explain why they had failed to identify the alleged bomber.

Yesterday, a Downing Street spokesman insisted relations with the US were "excellent".

Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling accused Mr Brown of breaking the convention of not commenting on intelligence matters and warned the "inaccurate and cavalier" way he had acted could damage the relationship with Washington.