With its armed police and dog patrols, Manchester airport exudes a reassuring sense of security that befits the country's third largest aviation hub. The reality is worryingly different.
After the 9/11 terror attacks, many airports increased their investment in security; but Manchester went in the opposite direction, cutting its security budget by eight million and its workforce by a third. In order to discover the truth about security at Manchester airport in the wake of these cuts, reporter Michelle Cox applied for a job as an aviation security officer. The training was impressive: strict guidelines, laid down by the Department for Transport, govern how many bags and passengers should be searched. But Michelle soon discovered that, in reality, airport security worked rather differently.
When she asked colleagues how best to meet the government's guidelines, they openly advised her to exaggerate the figures, with one workmate openly declaring, we cheat. Michelle also discovered a litany of additional security failures:
planes were left open and unattended on the tarmac overnight (easy access was provided by the steps, which were left attached, contrary to security rules);
two separate metal detectors failed to spot Michelle's undercover recording equipment;
metal detectors also failed to detect a large knife and a large pair of scissors.
Team leaders warned colleagues about covert inspectors from the Department of Transport.
The full results of Michelle's investigation are revealed in this shocking exposé, Whistleblower.
This BBC documentary film, Whistleblower, highlights often harrowing negligence and lack of concern for passengers' health and safety from staff training to and currently working at this, one of the UK's largest airports.
Whistleblower
DVD
Duration 60 minutes
Licensed for use in education and training
Order online or by telephone.
A license is available for organisations who wish to make available their BBC DVD training material for staff training purposes on an internal web site. Please telephone for a quotation.
A volume discount is available when ordering three or more DVDs at the same time. Please telephone for a quotation.
A license is available for organisations who wish to make available their BBC DVD training material for staff training purposes on an internal web site. Please telephone for a quotation.