Airport Security, Immigration & Border Control

[Aviador]

Related topics can be posted here. Please be reminded that this is a public forum. Do not post things that could hinder airport or airline security.

 

[Aviador]

Reported some time ago on the old forum, the security tender for LBA has been up for renewal. The tender has been awarded to OMNI aviation securty.

 

[Bigman]

So where does this leave the existing G4S staff????

 

[White Heather]

Probably TUPE'd across to the new employer - it happens all the time when contracts are up for renewal. The Group 4 people end up working for OMNI on the same terms and conditions. If they won't transfer, they have to stay with Group 4 on another contract (if there is a place available somewhere).

 

[Aviador]

Leeds Bradford airport drug smuggler gets seven years

A teenage smuggler who flew into Leeds Bradford Airport with £400,000 of heroin stashed in suitcases has been jailed for seven years.

Customs officers at the airport discovered eight kilos of the drug at around 50 per cent purity concealed behind the lining of the two professionally adapted cases, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Belgian national Eliezer Tshibamba Katuku Nono, 19, told police he was a student who had travelled to Leeds from Brussels on the flight last September and planned to stay a fortnight to visit an uncle in Leeds.

Prosecutor, Danielle Graham, said Nono told police his aunt and uncle promised to pay him 5,500 Euros for smuggling drugs into the UK.

The court heard Nono told police he had no idea heroin was in the suitcases.

Nono, who sat with a French interpreter in the dock, later said that was a lie.

He admitted bringing in the drugs in from Turkey via Paris and Brussels and was intending to catch a train to London to hand over the cases to his uncle.

Richard Reed, for Nono, said he was at the "bottom of the chain" in the drug smuggling world and did not lead a lavish lifestyle.

Mr Reed said his client was an easy target for those higher up the chain.

Jailing him for seven years, Judge James Spencer QC, told him: "If you are deported you will serve that sentence in Belgium."

Nono had pleaded guilty to importation of heroin
Source

A drug smuggler who was caught using Leeds Bradford Airport to smuggle heroin has been jailed for 7 years according to the Yorkshire Evening Post. Whilst this is good news, it amazes me because it always seems that you can be jailed for a longer period for drug smuggling than for murder.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I know what you mean but the penalty for a conviction for murder is life imprisonment. A judge has no option. What he or she can do though, and usually do, is recommend a minimum term that the offender must serve before they can be considered for release on licence.

It's usually at least ten years and the offender can be recalled to prison at any time if he/she misbehaves so in that sense they have received a life sentence.

Where people sometimes receive what many consider ridiculously light sentences is on a conviction for manslaughter. Although life imprisonment is the maximum term of imprisonment for a conviction for manslaughter judges do not have to impose it and rarely do. They often dish out five or six years in the slammer and sometimes even less.

 

[Aviador]

Concern as lasers target aircraft

There have been calls for laser pens to be withdrawn from sale

Officials have expressed concern after nine aircraft landing at Leeds-Bradford airport were targeted by laser guns.

There has been a growing number of attacks using laser guns, which can blind an airline pilot at a crucial time in his landing procedure.

Experts say the attacks often come from specialised lasers used in industry which are more powerful than the ones available across the counter.

The airport said it has a robust procedure to report incidents quickly.

An airport statement said: "This type of activity represents a danger not only to the safety of an aircraft but also to the health of flight crew and we work very closely with the local police air support unit to ensure a quick response to any related incidents."

Captain Ken Medcroft, who runs a flight simulator and also flies aircraft said: "It is just like looking at the sun and it's a serious safety risk."

Planes landing at Edinburgh and Cardiff have also been targeted in recent months.

Motorists, bus and train drivers have all been the subject of laser attacks in recent years.

Last year a 21-year-old man was jailed for four months for temporarily blinding a police helicopter pilot in Manchester.

He used a laser pen, prompting calls for them to be withdrawn from sale.

Source

 

[Aviador]

These pens serve no real purpose for anything. This is simple, they should just be banned.

 

[Bigman]

Round 'em up..purrem in a field...and bomb the ********!!!!! Kenny Everett was so right!!

 

[White Heather]

Since there appears to be no valid reason to shine a laser pen at an aircraft cockpit, other than to blind the pilots, doing so should be viewed as attempted murder on a mass scale and carry the appropriate jail sentence. That might make one or two brainless morons think - if they are capable anyway. Of course, someone has to catch them at it first. My worry is that so called Environmentalists will catch on to this in an attempt to cause disruption and fear amongst passengers, and frankly, the headlines on Look North last night will have scared quite a few people.

 

[Aviador]

Yes, something negative and the BBC are up there like a shot. Something positive and they'll be either nowhere to be seen or they will move the report to an afternoon broadcast when nobody watches TV. I wonder how much coverage we will see if we get a London service back?

 

[Aviador]

Airport Businesses Focus On Terrorism

Chief Inspector Scott Bisset talks to representatives at the event. Businesses and partner agencies in and around Leeds Bradford International Airport have been focusing on terrorism as part of a national awareness campaign.

Around 35 representatives from businesses, airport security and the UK Border Agency took part in a half-day workshop this week, designed to help them learn more about preventing, handling and recovering from a terrorist attack.

The event, which was organised by the airport’s neighbourhood policing team, was part of Project Argus - an Association of Chief Police Officers National Counter Terrorism Security Office initiative.

Representatives met up at LA Fitness, in Yeadon, where they were given an introduction by Chief Inspector Scott Bisset, of North West Leeds Division, before specialist security advisors from the Counter Terrorism Unit in Leeds took syndicates through a realistic table-top exercise based around a simulated terrorist attack in a crowded area.

Attendees were asked to consider issues around security, the reporting of suspicious incidents, immediate action in a terrorist incident, recovery, contingency planning and business continuity.

Inspector Darren Huddleston, who heads the airport neighbourhood policing team, said: “The fact so many businesses were willing to give up their time to take part in the event is a clear indication of the commitment LBIA and surrounding businesses have to the security of their customers and staff. The feedback we received has been excellent with many of those involved commenting on the positive benefits of the day.”

Source

 

[Aviador]

Reports suggest that a laser beam was shone at an arriving Thomas Cook flight yesterday evening.

It's clear that these dangerous little beasts should be outlawed once and for all. There's really no need for anyone to have one. I have to say though that I didn't think that the BBC was right to cover the subject the other week. Unfortunately there are too many idiots that would be quiet happy to copycat these morons. I'm sure that the incidents have escalated since the problem started getting publicised.

 

[White Heather]

Aviador, is that yesterday as in Saturday evening or Friday evening? I have seen that a laser was shone at the TCX when landing on Friday night, but are you saying it happened again on Saturday - two nights running?

This is becoming a serious matter. It would not be easy to find out where the beam originates from unless someone is actually seen doing it. I would bet it is the same person - someone with an anti aviation or anti airport motivation.

If/when they find this person, they should throw them into prison and leave them there. As far as I am concerned, this is as good as attempted murder on a mass scale. Anyone who does this, knowing the potential consequences, has to be a complete head case or just plain evil.

 

[Aviador]

Sorry Friday not Saterday. That's shift work for you!

 

[Aviador]

Airport evacuated over 'package'

Leeds Bradford Airport has been evacuated after reports were received of a suspect package, police have said.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said officers were alerted just after 1930 GMT. West Yorkshire Fire Service has sent several fire engines to the scene.

Nearby roads were closed because of the incident and the emergency services are still in attendance.

Aircraft were still landing at the airport after the terminal building was evacuated, according to its website.

Source

The incident is now over and flights have returned to normal.

 

[WYIA]

Yes.... it was an interesting evening last night. Just happy nothing came of it and the airport returned to normal ops.

 

[wawkrk]

I came in on the late flight from Krakow last night.
I must say I felt sorry for the 2 young immigration officers on duty. One of them being visibly stressed.
Almost all passengers were Romanian gypsies or similar.
One young pregnant girl probably looking for free treatment.
The officers were telling many to go back and wait.
They seemed to have no support as the airport was deserted and were not sure what to do next.
It was hard to believe I was back in the UK.
I assume these people enter Poland from elsewhere then head for freeby land.

 

[Aviador]

I came in on the late flight from Krakow last night.
I must say I felt sorry for the 2 young immigration officers on duty. One of them being visibly stressed.
Almost all passengers were Romanian gypsies or similar.
One young pregnant girl probably looking for free treatment.
The officers were telling many to go back and wait.
They seemed to have no support as the airport was deserted and were not sure what to do next.
It was hard to believe I was back in the UK.
I assume these people enter Poland from elsewhere then head for freeby land.

Hmm I have to agree with your comments. It's difficult to comment on matters such as this other than that it is my belief that these gypsy people are bringing many problems with them to the UK. I don't think the authorities realise to what extent yet.

 

[yorkshire]

They shoulndt be allowed in to the country..if you have not paid in to the system then you shouldnt be allowed to take anything out!