Leeds Bradford: Airport Security, Immigration & Border Control

[User0001]

we really souldn't be making comments like that without the full facts.
If they have been then let into the country to visit then that has been the decision made by the guys on Immigration and Boarder control.Romania being part of the e u we can't stop the people of that nation coming in no more than we can stop the polish communty coming over unless there is good reason why after checking out details on individuals that they should not be allowed to proceed.
It's smacks of tarring everyone with the same brush and is what is happening in italy at the moment with the gypsy communties.
But bringing it right back to what was said stating that they looked like gypsies may not in all cases mean they are. Yes i was not there in the que but don't like the way the comments are heading and sounding like things that used to get banded around 30 years or so ago by people of my late fathers age.

 

[Aviador]

After reading your post I thought I'd better double check the thread.

To be fair the comments are no different from comments made in local and national newspapers.

Bringing in gypsies will cause us more problems

WE should all be very concerned about this latest initiative to invite Eastern European gypsies into the county to fill job vacancies ('Let travellers and gypsies work here', Echo, January 15).
As a taxpayer, I find it baffling that we all have to foot the bill to provide amenities on gypsy sites.
Gypsies are supposed to be travellers, yet they roll into an area and stay there for years in some cases.
Why? If their culture dictates that they should roam and wander, they should do just that, and preferably in an area where they aren't going to wreck the landscape.
Bringing more gypsies into the country isn't a good idea.
They claim 'persecution' if they are punished in their country and racism when they are punished in this country.
If I was to commit the same crime in their country, I would receive the same, or a more severe punishment, and in this country, I would be prosecuted.
We have to remember that while some regimes in these people's countries of origin can be brutal by our standards, the level of crime committed is minimal in comparison to that in this country.
We all whinge and moan that our judges are too soft, that habitual offenders don't go to jail, and the ones that do get it easy, but when do we stop and say that if you commit a crime, you will be punished accordingly, regardless of race, creed, colour or culture, and if you happen to be a foreign national, you will serve your sentence and be sent home unable to return again?
More to the point, if there is a shortage of workers due to the exodus of Polish workers, these jobs should be filled by British nationals.
If the unemployed Brits don't take them, they should have their benefits stopped, and if there is still a shortage, we should make offenders work in chain gang- style work parties to fill the gap.
Even as a last resort, we should not be offering these jobs to migrant gypsies.
If this is the only solution that our local authorities and politicians can come up with, then we are in much deeper trouble than we thought we were.

MATTHEW HUNT Lincoln.
The Echo invited our thoughts (January 15) on Councillor Peter Robinson's invitation to gypsies in Romania and Bulgaria to come to this county. I have very strong views on people coming to this country with a lifestyle that requires millions of public money being spent to support that lifestyle, often to the detriment of the citizens of this country.
I am very aware of the chosen lifestyle of Romanian gypsies and why they are persecuted in countries where they have tried to settle.
Thanks to this Government's attitude to free speech and subservience to every single diktat from Brussels, I doubt if anyone of my generation can put their thoughts into words without being accused of racism, discrimination or, God forbid, nationalism.
I wonder what planet Peter Robinson is on, as portfolio holder for social cohesion, if he thinks the importation of Romany gypsies will help social cohesion. If you create such a post, is the post-holder then obliged to justify his existence by creating such schemes? This seems to be happening across the board with the creation of both central and local government posts required as a result of this Government's pathetic attempt to destroy every vestige of Britishness that is left in this country.
I would have no problem with Romany gypsies coming here if they came to work hard and to live a lifestyle that does not require them to live, as Peter Robinson put it, in 'unbelievable medieval squalor'. I do not believe that lifestyle is necessarily enforced upon them.
When I shared a meal with Arab friends in Kuwait, I ate with my right hand. When I visited longhouses of Iban or Dayak friends in Borneo, their culture and traditions were equally important to me, not least because I did not want to lose my head or be enjoyed as a 'long pig'. But is it too much to expect my culture and traditions to be equally respected? I despair for the future of my grandchildren in this country.
IAN DURRANT Boultham Park Road Lincoln.

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/new ... ticle.html

If we chose to ignore matters such as this are we no sweeping potential problems under the carpet? Perhaps the issue that wawkrk is looking at is the very fact that we are in the European Union common market. Allowing people to transit our borders without sufficient checks 'could' be damaging. He points out that the immigration staff looked to be stressed which indicates that the people in question who just happened to appear to be gypsies were been rather non cooperative with them or borderline abusive.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The message I took from wawkrk's post was that the seemingly grossly understaffed immigration team on that evening was struggling to do its job properly and that a milling crowd of anyone might mean people being admitted to the country who shouldn't have been - because of pressure of work on the immigration staff.

 

[wawkrk]

I live in Eastern Europe and I have worked in the Eastern Block for many years. I visit Romania regularly and understand the culture.
My comments were actually restrained I could have said a lot more.I dont think you know what you are talking about mode1.
Local Yokel yes you are correct about understaffing when so many dubious passengers arrive at the same time and staff are under pressure to make quick decisions in order to allow arrivals to be processed smoothly.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Yes i was not there in the que but don't like the way the comments are heading and sounding like things that used to get banded around 30 years or so ago by people of my late fathers age.

Now who is generalising?

Perhaps some people of your late father's age but not everyone to be sure.

 

[User0001]

right well not bothering on here again can get the picture of what the mood of the collective are on here and feelings on race at the moment.

 

[wawkrk]

Nothing to do with race only a decription of different types of people.
Tell me, how would you describe a native of the Middle East?
Or Turkish people who are Kurds?
If you are a Romanian gypsy I am sorry but no offence was ever intended.

 

[Aviador]

right well not bothering on here again can get the picture of what the mood of the collective are on here and feelings on race at the moment.

mode1

As the Administrator of the site I can assure you that this site does not promote hatred or racism towards anyone here or in the wider community. As I am the forum Administrator I have access to peoples accounts and e-mail addresses. Obviously all these details are strictly confidential and will remain that way but they do indicate that the site is frequented by a wide section of the community with people from all backgrounds and races.

What you have to understand is that sometimes it is difficult to describe a scenario in writing without giving an account of what the person looked like. For instance how many times have you seen on the TV or heard on the radio "a white man in his early 20s", or a black or Asian man etc etc. Should the report just say "a man in his early 20s?" As we rely on written words to convey what we are describing, sometimes things can be easily misinterpreted.

This is a friendly site and we welcome varied discussions but I would suggest that you take time to get to know the individuals on here before jumping to conclusions. I do hope that you can stay with us to add an alternative slant to the discussions.

 

[Aviador]

Strictly don't come dancing: Break-dance instructor kicked out of Yorkshire

AN American break-dancing instructor who tried to get into Britain illegally has been sent back home from Leeds Bradford Airport after telling lies about his reason for visiting Yorkshire.
On arrival at Leeds at Sunday night on a flight from Paris, the 28-year-old man told UK Border Agency officers that he was only intending to stay in the UK for six days to visit a friend at Leeds University.

However the man had no return ticket, and officers' suspicions were raised further when checks revealed that he had been refused entry to the UK only last June, although his passport bore no sign of the refusal stamp.

A search of the man's baggage revealed the two missing pages from his passport including the refusal stamp – along with 500 business cards he had packed, promoting his services as a break-dancing instructor.

A UK Border Agency spokesman said: "There are strict legal channels for people wanting to come and work in the UK. Visitors must abide by our immigration rules: if they do not they will be sent back. We do not tolerate people entering with the aim of working illegally."

The man was refused entry, detained and removed from the UK the next day.

Source

 

[Aviador]

[textarea]Three heroic officers from West Yorkshire police who bravely tackled a suspected terrorist at Leeds Bradford Airport are also nominated.

They cannot be named or pictured for security reasons.

The trio showed huge courage last January after a man raced through the airport clutching a black briefcase and yelling: “Praise be to Allah. You are all going to die with me.”

As he dropped to his knees to pray the three pulled him away from the case.

It proved to be empty but for all the cops knew it was a genuine suicide attack.

Source[/textarea]

:shok:

 

[Aviador]

[textarea]Custodial sentence for 20-year-old considered

A 20-year-old Bradford man could face a custodial sentence after he shone a laser at the West Yorkshire Police helicopter.

Luke Rawson admitted shining the laser pen three times at the aircraft.

He appeared at Bradford Crown Court today and pleaded guilty to a charge of recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger aircraft, in breach of the Civil Aviation Act.

The charge specified that on June 3 this year, at Bradford, Rawson, of Rawson Street, Wyke, shone a green laser pen at the West Yorkshire Police force helicopter.

His lawyer, Philip Ainge, said Rawson accepted shining the laser pen three times at the helicopter.

He asked for a probation report before Rawson, who had no convictions of a similar nature, was sentenced.

The judge, Recorder Bryan Cox QC, adjourned the case until October 20 and granted Rawson unconditional bail.

The Civil Aviation Authority said it took any threat to aviation safety seriously.

A spokesman said: “Any member of the public shining a light at an aircraft or helicopter could endanger the safety of the flight, and any person found guilty of such an offence could face a custodial sentence.”

There has been a big rise in laser incidents, from 29 in 2007 to 206 last year.

Earlier this year nine aircraft were targeted by laser guns as they landed at Leeds-Bradford Airport.

Pilots can be blinded for several seconds by the light. This is followed by several minutes of visual effects such as glare and flash-blindness. Pilots are asked to see an aeromedical doctor or optometrist before flying again.

Bob Jones, head of flight operations at the CAA, said the message was clear to individuals targeting aircraft with laser devices.

“You will be caught and you will be prosecuted and you could spend up to five years in prison,” he said.

“We strongly urge anyone who sees a laser being used against aircraft to contact the police immediately. These things are not toys, they pose a serious risk to all flight safety.”

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said last night: “Shining laser pens into the cockpit of any aircraft is extremely dangerous. Doing so could dazzle or distract a pilot and puts lives at risk. Such reckless behaviour will be investigated and we hope today’s conviction acts as a warning to others.”

Source[/textarea]

 

[White Heather]

I hope they throw the book at this guy. IDIOT!!

 

[backtrack]

Its true though what the CAA said, people dont realise how big an issue this actually is, what it can cause pilots when shone at them from the ground. Im currently training to be a pilot so as you would imagine i feel strongly about this matter and want these guys locked up, no unconditional bail, no nothing!

IMO there is no excuse for this sort of behaviour, its not funny, its not clever and its definatly not a joke. How would that guy of felt if his family had of been onboard a flight he shone the laser at, the pilots lost their vision and ended up worst case scenario loosing control of the aircraft?

 

[White Heather]

Since the obvious possible result of this behaviour is the aircraft crashing with lives lost, this should be treated as attempted murder x however many people are on the aircraft. If the culprits were locked up and the key thrown away for good, they might think twice. How can they let this idiot out on bail?

 

[Bigman]

I personally hope that they get banged up for a long stretch. I know where I would stick their laser pens as well.

 

[Aviador]

[textarea]Man jailed for smuggling Iranians at Leeds-Bradford Airport

A PEOPLE-smuggler who brought three Iranian illegal immigrants to Leeds Bradford airport on a Jet2 flight has been jailed.

Former hairdresser Warren Hadfield, 32, tutored the men to cheat immigration controls before the flight from Prague.

Hadfield got through immigration at Leeds-Bradford after claiming he was travelling alone but two of the Iranians, travelling on forged passports, were held.Hadfield was arrested at his parents' home in Blackburn.
Bradford Crown Court heard that the third immigrant has not been traced. Hadfield was recruited by another man while living in Thailand to act as a tutor to the immigrants staying at a Bangkok hotel.

Western One of the Iranians told Hadfield's function was to teach him English, teach him how to conduct himself in a Western manner and how to answer questions the UK immigration authorities would ask him.
The immigrant set off for the UK on December 27 last year when he flew from Thailand to Turkey. Hadfield met up with him and gave him the Israeli passport, which he then used to fly to Bratislava before travelling by train to Prague.

Prosecutor David Gordon said return tickets to Leeds Bradford for the three Iranians and Hadfield were bought at the same time in Prague and last New Year's Eve last year they all landed at the airport.
Hadfield, who admitted two charges of people-smuggling, was jailed for 30 months. His barrister Derek Duffy said he was not a principal in the operation.

Source[/textarea]

It's good to see that the UK border control does work sometimes.

 

[yorkshire]

He should have got longer and i hope the iranians were sent back home to iran .

 

[White Heather]

I work in the Civil Service, and if we get a bomb threat of any type we are not allowed to leave the building until such time as all exit routes from it have been thoroughly searched first. Otherwise we could all make a mad dash to get out and walk directly into the potential blast area. Instead we all have to stand away from windows, close blinds etc and wait for further instructions. It seems that this is perhaps the policy that the airport followed. Actually I would have thought that the airport should have a policy for bomb and fire evacuations which is practiced annually and which all staff on site are made aware of. If this isn't the case, it certainly should be.

If people were told that there was a suspicious package, it doesn't surprise me. Imagine the panic if people thought that there was a suicide bomber in the airport? Imagine also the possible action of the bomber if they announced the full facts. There is every chance that he may decide to cut his losses and everyone elses lifespan by detonating there and then rather than missing his opportunity.

 

[Aviador]

[textarea]Airport Community joins Project Griffin

Businesses and residents in and around Leeds Bradford International Airport are joining forces with police and partner agencies as part of a unique project to combat terrorism and crime.

Project Griffin aims to raise awareness of the current terrorist threat among the airport community and enlist the help of those working and living in and around this important regional transport hub.

The initiative, which originally started life in 2004 with City of London Police and the business community in London’s ‘square mile’, sees members take part in free awareness days run by the airport’s policing team and other specialists.

These cover areas including suspect packages, suspicious vehicles, terrorist reconnaissance and crime scene preservation. Members are also provided with weekly updates on the latest intelligence on the terrorist threat, crime and other local issues.

The scheme is open to airport businesses, including airline operators, security firms, shops and restaurants, as well as local businesses and residents in the immediate vicinity of the airport.

In the event of a major incident, Project Griffin members can be deployed to assist the police with cordons and evacuations.

Representatives of organisations who have signed up to the scheme joined police and partner agencies for the official launch at LA Fitness in Yeadon on Monday (12/10).

Chief Superintendent Ian Whitehouse, Divisional Commander for North West Leeds, said: “Project Griffin represents a true partnership approach to the disruption and detection of potential terrorist threats, be they international or domestic. It will provide much-needed additional ‘eyes and ears’ in the local community thereby empowering people to feel more confident in reporting suspicious behaviour to the police.

“It creates a network of people who will play a vital role in maximising security around their own working environment and the wider airport community while working closely alongside the police and partner agencies. The regular sharing of up-to-date information will encourage vigilance by employees who will feel an increased sense of responsibility by becoming part of a partnership team committed to protective security.”

To find out more about Project Griffin or to reserve places on forthcoming awareness days contact the airport neighbourhood policing team on 01274 471474 01274 471474 or email [email protected]
Further information on Project Griffin can be found on the website at http://www.projectgriffin.org.uk

Source[/textarea]

Rather odd that they use a Bradford number considering that th Police Office is in Otley which is an 01943 number. Hmmm!

It's good to see the airport's own Police team is active in our local neighbourhood community.

 

[lbaviation]

Nothing odd at all. Common place in Police Forces.

I am the Chairman of Project Griffin at LBA and have an integral part of the implementation of this project.

Please feel free to ask questions, your support is very very welcome.

It does affect us all....whether we realise it or not

Kind Regards