Full body scanners yay or nay

[danlisa]

Generally, I'm in favour of anything that ensures public safety BUT in this instance where it becomes the norm is plain wrong!

These scanners should only be used when a handheld scanner returns an anomalous result or a person who is suspected (thanks to prior knowledge) arrives at check in.

It should not be used in the same way as baggage scanning.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by danlisa

Generally, I'm in favour of anything that ensures public safety BUT in this instance where it becomes the norm is plain wrong!

These scanners should only be used when a handheld scanner returns an anomalous result or a person who is suspected (thanks to prior knowledge) arrives at check in.

It should not be used in the same way as baggage scanning.

There you have highlighted one of the biggest failures in the system in this instance.

A metal detector or hand wand would detect nothing.

This guy was indeed on a 'watch list' or a suspected person with prior knowledge. Yet nothing happened.

This guy payed for his ticket in cash. An action that is supposed to trigger a 'suspicious' activity. Yet nothing happened.

This guy checked in for a two week trip yet checked no baggage. Again this is supposed to trigger 'suspicious activity'. Yet nothing happened.

So they had not one not two but three reasons to pull this guy aside. Yet nothing happened.

If the guy had passed through one of these xray glasses machine there is a very good chance something may have been done.


I had to chuckle one of the recommendations to help avert this type of thing is to "Unionize the Screeners". Yes of course that will make them much more dilligent.

[danlisa]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

There you have highlighted one of the biggest failures in the system in this instance.

A metal detector or hand wand would detect nothing.

This guy was indeed on a 'watch list' or a suspected person with prior knowledge. Yet nothing happened.

This guy payed for his ticket in cash. An action that is supposed to trigger a 'suspicious' activity. Yet nothing happened.

This guy checked in for a two week trip yet checked no baggage. Again this is supposed to trigger 'suspicious activity'. Yet nothing happened.

So they had not one not two but three reasons to pull this guy aside. Yet nothing happened.

If the guy had passed through one of these xray glasses machine there is a very good chance something may have been done.

I had to chuckle one of the recommendations to help avert this type of thing is to "Unionize the Screeners". Yes of course that will make them much more dilligent.

So, they had 3 chances to pull this guy and failed at every opportunity. How do you think a 4th chance would make any difference?

Human error or laziness each time allowed this individual to pass through unchecked.

Airport security need to amend their policies rather than trample on peoples civil rights. Governments of every country are too quick to exercise terrorist laws & capture methods without consideration for the law abiding public. Just because the people in the 'first line of defense' are failing at their job does not mean we must be subjected to this idiotic technology as the 'be all and end all' solution.

[SteamWake]

I'm not so sure if it was lazyness or error insomuch as a desire to be politically correct and not offend a person by singling them out.

There is no question the system failed in this case in spite of what Napalitano (sp?) might of said.

[Skybird]

Terrorism is already planning ahead of full body scanners, by explosives being carried inside the body. I just wait for a chemical genius turning the body tissue itself into a bomb by having a special drink.

If you want total control over passengers, there is one solution, and only this one is safe: they get brought onboard stripped to a stretcher, in a condition of full anaesthetic.

[Platapus]

Some good points have been raised.

However tools can only do so much. It is the operator who has to interpret the data and the security officer that has to analyze the data that is the weak link.

Perhaps if we paid TSA screeners a decent wage, it would be easier to attract better people.

My friend was one of the first batch of TSA screeners. They were lied to by the government, not paid any wages for over 9 weeks. Not paid for working overtime (which was mandatory). She said that TSA had almost a 100% turn over rate at her airport the first six months. That does not bode well for security.

She left TSA after almost three years and by that time she was the senior female screener and one of the senior screeners at her airport.

She took her job very seriously but she told me that many of the TSA screeners were there only for the paycheck (such as it was).

I hope it has gotten better but not keeping my hopes up.

If there are any TSA screeners on this forum: Thank you for the job you do. It is not an easy job and your successes are often hidden and your failures are often exposed. Thank you for trying to keep us just a little bit safer.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Some good points have been raised.

However tools can only do so much. It is the operator who has to interpret the data and the security officer that has to analyze the data that is the weak link.

Perhaps if we paid TSA screeners a decent wage, it would be easier to attract better people.

My friend was one of the first batch of TSA screeners. They were lied to by the government, not paid any wages for over 9 weeks. Not paid for working overtime (which was mandatory). She said that TSA had almost a 100% turn over rate at her airport the first six months. That does not bode well for security.

She left TSA after almost three years and by that time she was the senior female screener and one of the senior screeners at her airport.

She took her job very seriously but she told me that many of the TSA screeners were there only for the paycheck (such as it was).

I hope it has gotten better but not keeping my hopes up.

If there are any TSA screeners on this forum: Thank you for the job you do. It is not an easy job and your successes are often hidden and your failures are often exposed. Thank you for trying to keep us just a little bit safer.

I think the point is that this should have been picked up way before it came down to screening.

Lets review shall we?

* On watch list
* Bought ticket with cash
* One way ticket
* No luggage
* US embasy notified by a freakin former Economic Minister (His father BTW)

and not one alarm went off