As we have become ever more
security conscious, we have seen
the growth of the checkpoint
phenomenon. It clearly is a
necessary evil in our world today.
The checkpoint is part and parcel of
national frontiers, politically
sensitive sites, military bases,
transportation hubs and, indeed, of
any place where a large number of
people gather. Courts, museums,
embassies, factories, sports venues,
hotels and, of course, airports all
require some level of security
perimeter to be established with the
intent that all persons who pass
through it, and whatever they may
be carrying on their person, are
thoroughly checked for dangerous
Checkpoint
items or contraband. The problem,
however, is that most of the focus
tends to be on the technologies
used at the checkpoint rather than
Woes:
the structural and operational
doctrine behind its design.
Rick Rowe discusses some of the
key considerations in checkpoint
design. After all, you may identify a
where is the doctrine?
threat but if you don’t know how to
manage and neutralise that threat,
disaster could still be the end result.
T
he issue is not the necessity for
“…we cannot simply
It has taken the industry the same period
checkpoints. All, save for the truly of time to ignore the limitations of metal
extreme libertarians, recognise the
drop new technologies
detection and the recent plot, using
need. For our safety and the safety of our liquids and gels, to provoke change.
families, the vast majority of us grudgingly Even physical pat-downs are not that
accept being checked, recognising that
into the old models
effective against some new threats, such
the screener has to ensure that we do not as thin sheet explosives. And physical pat-
pose a threat to others and/or that we are and expect any downs are time consuming, typically not
not stealing something. So we have done well as the security person tires
checkpoints, but how do we use them?
success…”
and, of course, most of us do not like to
The challenge today seems to be that be touched.
we lack uniform or leading doctrine on The potential for explosives in liquids or
how to establish and manage
emulate in establishing a good process. gels is real. Every frequent flyer knows the
checkpoints, respond to the privacy
Unfortunately, the airport, the most new drill that, depending on where one is
concerns of people passing through them
commonly known checkpoint, is not very in the world, involves placing downsized
and ensure that whatever is done neither
good. This is a well documented fact so versions of such substances of this ilk
negatively impacts people’s health nor be
hopefully there is no arguing the myriad of (taken as carry-on) in clear plastic bag for
unnecessarily invasive. Easier said than
tests that show that the old faithful separate X-ray examination. Great. Too
done when the process must, clearly, be
approach of an archway metal detector bad only the good people play the game. I
fast and provide some degree of certainty
for the person to walk through and an X- have friends who simply put their
that one can detect the prohibited items
ray or visual check of their bags just toothpaste in their pocket and just walk
one is screening for.
doesn’t meet today’s needs. through the metal detector because they
Normally we can find a trendsetter or a
The bad guys have had 30 years to know it will never detect it and the
de facto standard that others can
figure out how to defeat metal detectors. chances of pat down search are remote.
22 www.asi-mag.com February 2007 Aviationsecurityinternational
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