What progress after 911?

You may or may not know that since the 911 terrorist attacks it has become a requirement in the UK that for the issue of a UK airport ID card every employee must apply for and obtain a Criminal Records Check. This check is completed by a government appointed organisation called Disclosure Scotland and the process frequently takes over 3 months for each employee. The idea is that nobody with an unspent criminal conviction is able to hold an ID and has already resulted in many good employees in many companies losing their jobs. The point I am keen to highlight here are a couple of the inadequacies in the system.

Firstly, the check is completed on the basis of information volunteered in an application form by the current/future employee. This consists of a 5 year employment history and a 10 year residential history. Any gaps of more than 7 days between employers must also be accounted for. I know for a fact that the residential part is not actually verified by Disclosure Scotland so I can’t see what relevance they get from it. They are, therefore trusting the applicant to be truthful in their declaration!

Secondly, the checks that are made only consider events within the UK. No checks are made outside of the UK, so an individual may hold convictions for horrendous crimes overseas (Iraq, Afghanistan?) and yet still be eligible for a UK ID pass!!!

Thirdly, because these checks are not able to identify overseas issues companies such as BA can employ hundreds of overseas nationals (who could be members of god knows what organisations) without any suitable and frankly more neccessary checks being carried out!!!!!!!!

Fourthly, there are three levels of checks available, Basic, Standard and Enhanced. My wifes friend who works on the check in at Heathrow is required to have an enhanced (highest level) check even though she has no access to aircraft at any critical time. I on the other hand have daily access to the same types of aircraft as used in 911 and yet I am only required to have a basic check!

There are many other contentious issues with these checks however I will stop at this point as this is enough. The people who chose to impose this rediculousness are the same people who drummed up the kneejerk unthought out British approach to sky marshalls so perhaps you can see why BALPA were so bothered about the lack of reality and therefore the potential dangers of what certain political pressures can bring.

Just some food for thought…