News

Expert questions heightened airport security measures

(1 August 2007)

A Durham University academic has questioned the heightened security measures in airports.

Dr Louise Amoore of the Department of Geography suggested that implementing measures to manage threats to security has unforeseen risks to public safety and security. Dr Amoore said: ”All attempts to manage security risk - with no exceptions - will produce other unforeseen risks to public safety and security. “To ban carry-on bottled water on flights is to potentially increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT); to limit carry-on luggage to one item is to encourage tightly packed bags that are more difficult to screen. “Now, of course, to introduce new security measures is to create crowded public spaces. This is always the case, but we are seeing it more clearly now after Glasgow, because we got a glimpse of the vulnerability we have created.”