Quote:
Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu
I read today, that BAA plans to have fingerprints taken at Airports to improve secruity, and some silly people, have claimed that this could breached the data protection act, what a load of tosh, we already have eye scanners at airports, so what is the difference with having fingerprints taken and held, just think, that if this was done and held on a database, just think of what it could do, prevent crime etc,only the other day, we had a man dressed up as a european woman, fully dressed and cover, who robbed a jewellers, but if we had a fingerprint database, the culprit could be caught and punished, such as airlines, we need tougher secruity at airports, it has already been proven over recent weeks, where people have broken onto airport grounds and got onto planes, and where a reporter actually got onto a plane, l think that flying would be much safer to fly, if we had much tougher secruity.  |
Arthur, a couple of things.......
a) it was a 6' 6" man in a burqa, pushing a push-chair, who buzzed the jewellers to be let in; when they opened the outside door, his accomplices ran in. They were all wearing gloves (including the giant TV), so having a fingerprint database would have added no value whatsoever, so I don't understand why you refer to it.
b) how would having a fingerprint database have stopped the reporter getting onto a plane, or people running onto runways?
c) what does having your fingerprint checked at an airport have to do with preventing crime and improving security?
btw, the reason for these measures at Heathrow T5?
Airport International
"BAA explained that the design of T5 meant it was necessary the measures were introduced.
International and domestic passengers will use the same public areas after check-in, and BAA says this means potential criminals, terrorists and illegal immigrants arriving from other countries "could bypass border controls" and exchange boarding passes with domestic passengers who had already checked-in.
Potentially, BAA said, they could then board a domestic flight, where proof of identity is not required at the moment, fly on to UK airport and leave without having to go through passport control."
So we have to have our fingerprints taken (along with pictures, which they do already) because BAA designed the airport with a security flaw.
As the Information Commissioner in Xaccer's link says
"Deputy Information Commissioner David Smith questioned why BAA needed to use fingerprinting at Heathrow when other airports like Gatwick and Manchester rely on photographs to ensure security at their common departure lounges.
He said photographs were "less intrusive" and BAA's case for fingerprinting at Heathrow had not been made."