REPORT: AIRPORT SECURITY NOT ANY BETTER
Follow-up investigation urges technology to boost safety
November 17, 2004
Nearly two years after internal investigators said they were able
to smuggle knives, guns and fake bombs past airport screeners, investigators
Tuesday said follow-up tests indicate a "lack of improvement."
In a report released Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security's
Office of Inspector General said airport screeners were hard-working
but it found results comparable to earlier tests.
The solution, the report said, resides in technology.
"Despite the fact that the majority of screeners with whom
our testers came in contact were diligent in the performance of
their duties and conscious of the responsibility those duties carry,
the lack of improvement since our last audit indicates that significant
improvement in performance may not be possible without greater use
of new technology," the report said.
The Office of Inspector General's report does not specify which
airports were tested or how many weapons or "threat objects"
were able to get past screeners. Congress received a classified
version of the report last week.
The Office of Inspector General said it conducted tests between
November 29 and February 4. During that time, two five-person teams
held hundreds of screenings at checkpoints and checked baggage tests
at airports of different sizes, the office said.
The Transportation Security Administration agrees that better technology
is needed.
"We are pleased that they recognize the dedication and expertise
of the screeners, and we agree with their conclusion that significant
improvements will depend on improvements in technology, though we
will seek incremental gains through training and testing and management
practices," said spokesman Mark Hatfield.
Hatfield noted $30 million has been allocated for the purchase
and installment of 147 explosive trace portal machines for the 40
busiest airports in the country. Fourteen portals are already in
place.
He also said that $174 million is in the fiscal 2005 budget for
research and development of new technology.
"The TSA has just entered into negotiations with two companies
to deliver two prototype Backscatter scanning devices that TSA should
have in field testing this year," he said, referring to technology
that creates photolike X-ray images.
The organization also is looking at multiple-view X-ray machines
for carry-on baggage, an official said.
Find this article at: http://www.cnn.com/2005/TRAVEL/04/19/airport.screeners/index.html
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