Industry comment on MPs' airport security report
Following detailed review of the Ninth Report from the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee "Counter-Terrorism Measures in British Airports" ADS, the UK's aerospace, defence and security trade organisation has commented as follows:
A|D|S welcomes the Committee's recognition that aviation security is an international issue and therefore agrees with its recommendation that international standards in aviation security must be made tougher. In support of aviation security operations, the UK security industry deploys industrial capabilities at airports across the world. From this vantage point, industry shares the view of the Committee that it is not enough to improve security at British airports. The UK Government, with the support of industry, has the opportunity to lead the way in the development of new international security standards that can enhance aviation security across the world.
A|D|S welcomes the Committee's recommendation that the Government should work closely with industry in developing new airport security measures such as full-body scanners. Whilst A|D|S would agree that technology alone can not strengthen airport security, UK industry is a key contributor to a multi-layered approach to airport security because it is a world leader in the supply of security technologies, systems, equipment and solutions that help to keep the travelling public safe in the skies.
Through mechanisms such as the UK Security and Resilience Industry Suppliers' Community (RISC) the Government can work in close partnership with industry at the strategic level to focus the shared investment that is needed to deliver new airport security capabilities.
The UK's Strategy for Countering International Terrorism (CONTEST) states that the UK security industry is a world-leader in the manufacture of security detection technologies. It also states that over 9,000 Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) systems are deployed worldwide for counter-terrorist applications. A|D|S notes the Committee's recommendation that the Government should speed up the deployment of ETD capability at British Airports.
