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Heathrow Airport: Security

Volume 479: debated on Monday 21 July 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008, Official Report, column 676W, on Heathrow Airport: security, whether UK Border Agency staff were able to ascertain the identities of passengers who left the domestic arrivals area prior to the error being identified. (213091)

There were five incidents where international passengers were misdirected to the domestic arrivals area by either British Airways or the British Airports Authority staff.

On three of the occasions, a number of individuals had left the domestic arrivals area prior to the error being identified. UKBA staff completed checks on the individuals who had entered to ensure that they did not present a known risk to the UK.

The airline provided UKBA staff with the relevant passenger information that was held on their systems, in line with established protocols and procedures. This was then used to carry out the necessary checks on all of the passengers who had travelled on the flights involved. These checks included cross checking the details of all those who had been on board the aircraft against Home Office databases. In addition, passengers’ details were also passed on to the Metropolitan Police Service who carried out additional security checks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2008, Official Report, column 676W, on Heathrow Airport: security, on what date each of the flights referred to occurred. (213184)

[holding answer 23 June 2008]: Two flights were misdirected by British Airways staff on 27 and 31 March.

On 3 April a flight was erroneously coached into the domestic baggage hall.

On 19 April, the driver of the passenger bus went to the incorrect coaching area and erroneously dropped some passengers into the domestic arrivals area.

On 21 April a flight was being coached from a remote stand into the main terminal, the final bus went to the incorrect coaching area and erroneously dropped seven passengers into the domestic arrivals area.

All of these incidents were the result of errors made by the employees of either British Airways or the British Airports Authority. When notified of these events UKBA staff worked closely with the airport operator to secure the domestic arrivals area and to redirect the passengers to the appropriate area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008, Official Report, column 676W, on Heathrow Airport: security, on what date she was informed of each of the security lapses referred to in the answer. (213186)

[holding answer 23 June 2008]: Of the five occasions where international passengers were misdirected by BAA or BA staff to the Domestic Arrivals area, the UK Border Agency, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, was immediately notified. UKBA staff then took appropriate and immediate remedial action.

All the necessary checks were carried out on the arriving passengers with every passenger being checked against the warnings index. On no occasion during these checks was there any security alert, and none of the passengers who entered the UK presented a known security risk.

The procedural issue was quickly addressed with the airport authority and the carriers. There have been no further occurrences of misdirecting flights through the Domestic area.

Given that there was no direct threat or risk to the UK, arising from the procedural problem, the issue was not raised beyond the Head of the Border Force.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008, Official Report, column 676W, on Heathrow Airport: security, what steps UK Border Agency staff took to monitor the effectiveness of the reviews of security. (213188)

[holding answer 23 June 2008]: After each incident detailed in my response of 16 June, a review was conducted in conjunction with both the British Airports Authority and British Airways and these reviews identified a number of actions to reduce the risk of reoccurrence. Since these were implemented, the UK Border Agency has continued to monitor to ensure that further misdirections do not occur. This monitoring activity involves a combination of CCTV coverage, formal and discreet observation by UK Border Agency Staff to ensure that airline and airport staff are operating the correct procedures. In addition, a regular series of review meetings has been set up between the senior management teams of UKBA, BAA and British Airways to specifically monitor these issues.