Passenger Screening Requirements—The View from Europe

Abstract

This paper examines the existing passenger screening procedures in use at airports throughout Europe. The question of numerous national boundaries over a relatively small distance and the problems these raise because of differing interpretation of national and international law is discussed. The function of the European Civil Aviation Conference in setting up a working group on security problems is explained and the matters under discussion by the two subgroups which deal with passenger screening. The one subgroup dealing with the study of administrative and operational aspects and the other subgroup focusing upon the study of technical aspects are put into perspective. The methods of financing security measures are explained, and a brief comparison of the systems used follows. The paper concludes with advice to security operatives on methods and practices for good screening.