Is this not a bit odd? Why would they ban screening of air cargo?
UK government ban on UPS air cargo screening
17 June 2011
The government says it has barred parcel company UPS from screening air cargo at some facilities in the UK because of security problems.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has not revealed any specific security issues and said the ban would remain until the carrier “has satisfied current security requirements”.
UPS said it was “working to address the problems” identified by the DfT.
A bomb was found last October on a UPS cargo plane at East Midlands airport.
The explosives were discovered after a tip-off and was not picked up by initial screening.
Investigators at East Midlands carried out a re-examination as a precaution and the bomb was found hidden in a printer cartridge posted in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. The flight had been bound for the US.
A similar bomb was also found around the same time, on a FedEx plane in Dubai.
In the wake of these incidents, Home Secretary Theresa May banned unaccompanied freight flown to the UK from Somalia. Unaccompanied air freight from Yemen had already been suspended earlier in the year.
There was also a ban on ink cartridges weighing more than 500g in hand baggage on flights out of the UK and on cargo flights.
The only exception was if they originated from a regular shipper with security arrangements approved by the DfT.
Safety ‘paramount’
And in March, a fake bomb was put on a cargo plane and flown from the UK to Turkey without being detected.
The UPS flight travelled to Istanbul with the package, reportedly containing a timer, wires and a detonator.
Whitehall officials say the current UPS security alert “does not represent an imminent threat”.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: “The safety of the travelling public is paramount and our security regime is kept under constant review.
“We can confirm that, following careful consideration, the department has restricted the number of sites in the UK at which UPS Ltd are permitted to screen air cargo until it has satisfied current security requirements.
“For obvious security reasons we will not comment on the details.”
Parcel delays
A UPS spokesman said: “As part of a scheduled review by the DfT of UPS procedures and employment documentation related to security, the DfT identified areas of concern that UPS now is working to address.
“Some facilities have been temporarily taken offline, which in some cases has led to delays in the movement of packages. UPS has activated contingency plans, communicated with customers and expects service levels to return to normal early next week.
“The DfT reviews have been helpful, educating UPS on the expectations of DfT auditors.
“UPS continues to assess the operation of its UK network and, in co-operation with the DfT, may refine it to ensure an even more efficient level of service to its customers.”
By: Flightmech - 20th June 2011 at 10:51
Be quiet, take your boots off and carry that case of engine oil through the xray in your socks!:D
By: HP81 - 18th June 2011 at 14:13
It seems to me that all the terrorists have to do is make some half hearted or botched attempted at an attack that doesn’t cause any real chaos or inconvenience and very shortly afterward the government agencies will follow up with measures that succeed beyond their wildest dreams.:(
By: kevinwm - 17th June 2011 at 20:55
I would guess that there has been a very stringent security audit and UPS have been caught out
I have seen other handling companies loose screening rights in the past and were only given them back after a clean bill of health was issued by the DFTand the CAA
By: Newforest - 17th June 2011 at 20:10
None of the freight intelligence sources will give any more information than that provided above, for security reasons. But one would question why it has taken almost three months to implement the restriction? :confused:
By: Lindermyer - 17th June 2011 at 19:54
UPS are banned from self screening their cargo it has to go through UK channels as the CAA arent happy with UPS security arrangements.
at least thats my understanding – i admit the headline had me scratching my head, although no where near as much as “Virgin alerts clients to virus infection”
By: CloudWarrior - 17th June 2011 at 19:29
Star Air 767s have been routing thro MAN for the past 3 nights, including tonight 🙂 General opinion is because of this ruling.
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June 17, 2011 at 1:58 pm