Security Gone Too Far?

[Tetley]

Ok, I agree that confiscating a bladeless Sgian Don't is a little silly, but a plastic knife can be a significant threat. Look at the knives here: http://www.coldsteel.com/nise.html

Notice that one of them is in fact a sgian dhu. I own one of these and, and as a test with the head of security's knowledge, walked through a checkpoint carrying it without setting off the metal detectors. It is a very serious weapon, and while it doesn't have the durability of a steel blade would do the job just as well. Airport security guards in any country have neither the training nor the time to make judgement calls on the seriousness of the threat in anything remotely resembling a weapon, and should err on the side of caution. Pack them in your checked luggage.
Geoff Withnell

Ouch!!!

Those are seriously nasty knives.

Reminds me of one of Dick Francis' book where the baddie had concealed knives everywhere, including one disguised as a tie.

Mark

[thanmuwa]

Those plastic knives that Geoff pointed out are indeed terrifying.
On the point of the ridiculous restrictions at the airport, I disagree them on the basis that less than two minutes thought would allow someone intent on harm to smuggle any manner of things on board. Whereas the people disadvantaged are those carrying drinking water, toothpaste etc on board. Who really thinks the underpaid jobsworths on security would detect one of these filled with over 2 litres of kerosene? or one of Geoff's plastic knives in a forearm sheath made of foam rubber that feels like real flesh? And those are two just off the top of my head, I am sure the loonies have hundreds more.

As a real example of how arbitrary and idiotic the restrictions are, I was travelling with an ex (a current at the time :-) ) and she accidentally put her make-up bag in her hand luggage. it had 3 sticks in it like fat cocktail sticks (something to do with toenails) which were duly confiscated. The bag had a mirror in it which was cracked although still in place. The longest shard was about 4 inches long but the bag was given back to my gf. Which would you rather be stabbed with, a tiny slightly pointy stick or a razor sharp 4 inch piece of glass!

Or, back to the original poster, which would you rather, a whack on the side of the head with a belt with a very solid buckle or a poke with a small piece of plastic. To my mind, the belt is more "dangerous" than a plastic sgian, but it is not on the list.... yet.

The only people who are going to spot stuff like the "beer belly" and so on are people highly trained in spotting suspicious behaviour and have commensurately high salaries, not people on minimum wage who have little or no training and are reading what is and isn't allowed off a list. A cynic might say that all the extra security at airports is not to protect people but to keep em panicked, but that may be going a little far down the political line......

[Tetley]

Or, back to the original poster, which would you rather, a whack on the side of the head with a belt with a very solid buckle or a poke with a small piece of plastic. To my mind, the belt is more "dangerous" than a plastic sgian, but it is not on the list.... yet.

Worse than a belt with a buckle, shoe laces. I kid you not. I carry two or three lengths of shoe lace string around in my haversack. Useful for tying things together with or entertaining youngsters on a boring flight teaching them to tie fancy knots. But as a garotte I would assume deadly. Yet no-one has thought about confiscating them. Makes a mockery out of all the security restrictions.

I understand why, but the execution of the security is farcical.

Mark

[McFarkus]

The only people who are going to spot stuff like the "beer belly" and so on are people highly trained in spotting suspicious behaviour and have commensurately high salaries, not people on minimum wage

The "beer belly" is hilarious. Only it wouldn't work for me - I've already got one. But it would be great for football games.

[Wolf]

I'm going on short period from Brussels to Geneva and back, as it's only for the weekend I'll only be carrying hand luggage. I'd like to take my kilt and I guess there won't be no possibility for a kilt pin or sgian dubh, but do any of you had trouble with the chains of the sporran strap (being considered as a weapon etc)? And did it ever happen to anyone that the kilt straps set of the metal detector?
Also is it stupid to go regimental? as i wouldn't feel very comfy with a dude sticking a metal-detector wand under my kilt if I'm not wearing anything under it, nevermind stripsearching!