How Safe Are We?

How Safe Are We?

One of the many moans I hear, and also agree with, is about how people dislike travelling by air these days because of the hassle at airports. Long queues at security, delays, cost of food and drink etc. These reasons are perhaps why around millions of passengers choose to leave from a United Kingdom port, Liverpool, Tilbury or the forever popular and busy Southampton instead.

So it was very troubling to read of the shocking issues that have arisen at Southampton port. Investigators, posing as cruise passengers,  managed to smuggle Knives, guns and fake bombs into the passenger terminals. The investigators went through the usual security style scanners, had wands passed over their bodies and even a pat down body search, and  security failed to spot the items. They also failed to spot the offending  items despite going through the x ray machine.

How troubling is this news? Can you just imagine the horror if a terrorist managed to board a ship? It’s not something I want to imagine.

Associated British Ports contracted a company to carry out these security tests last July, not only did they manage to get the restricted items through, they used fake ID’s to access restricted security areas, they weren’t challenged in these areas, security doors were left unlocked at one of the terminals, passenger manifests were read by the investigators, they even changed into their disguises in the car park.

The findings are truly shocking. It appears that the general feeling is one of apathy among the staff at Southampton and too much emphasis is placed on customer satisfaction rather than security. That’s just not good enough. Yes, we like to cruise from Southampton and yes, we enjoy the hassle free experience but not at any cost.

Let’s hope that the port authorities if they haven’t already done so address this situation immediately and ensure that travelling from Southampton is still a great experience but also a safe one.