Expecting the exceptional in the everyday: Policing global transportation hubs

Abstract

There has been considerable scholarly interest regarding the notion of exceptionality, i.e. how and under what conditions extraordinary powers and measures are justified in the name of security. Exceptional threats are now omnipresent in the security discourse of the aviation and maritime industries, and this influences the everyday working environment. Taking Norwegian airport and port security as its point of departure, this article analyzes how security and policing agencies perceive, experience, and respond to the exceptional as part of their everyday practice. Drawing on extensive interview material with security agencies, it reveals how agencies construct strategies to cope with the consequences of exceptionality that arise from heightened (in)security and vulnerability. This article demonstrates that instrumental logic in risk management is one crucial strategy, but evidence also reveals the importance of the human dimension in security practices, as the emotional aspect of security consciousness is a part of the everyday life of security agencies. Closely associated with this is the emergence of mechanisms of active resistance that provide excitement and alleviate boredom.

Exploring the Implementation of Unpredictability in the Field of Aviation Security

“…Using unpredictable variations in security controls is seen as an opportunity to train staff in carrying out these measures effectively, even those rarely utilized. Additionally, incorporating unpredictability is considered beneficial for enhancing and sustaining practical security awareness, which is acquired through hands-on experience (Nøkleberg, 2021), an unanticipated and thorough implementation of measures could indicate the potential for an imminent occurrence. Taking into account the comprehensive approach to security (Wigginton et al, 2014) where each security measure acts as a barrier to prevent illegal interference, the security-conscious human operator, who applies security measures in a less predictable manner and also pays attention to unusual behavior of passengers and employees, could serve as an extra layer of human obstruction; (Schouten, 2014)) and improve security (by making better security choices); (Kirschenbaum, 2015)).…”

Why and how unpredictability is implemented in aviation security – A first qualitative study

“…Moreover, applying unpredictability is also regarded as being useful for increasing and maintaining security awareness in practice. As security awareness is learned through practical experience [ 51 ], an unexpected rigorous application of measures could transmit that something could happen any time.…”