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‘Spot’ teams to spy on passengers [Sanity alert]
The Times (UK) ^ | August 20, 2006 | Unsigned

Posted on 08/20/2006 8:30:43 AM PDT by aculeus

ELITE teams of security officers are to be trained to monitor passenger behaviour at airports in a new attempt to combat terrorism.

The “behaviour detection squads” will patrol terminals to monitor the gestures, conversations and facial expressions of passengers. One of their aims will be to spot those who may be concealing fear or anxiety.

People deemed to be acting suspiciously will be taken for questioning and prevented from flying if they fail to explain their actions.

UK trainers have studied the techniques in America, where behaviour detection squads are already deployed at airports.

The plan is part of an overhaul of passenger screening. Instead of solely relying on searches to uncover weapons and bombs, airport authorities are increasingly seeking to pinpoint the terrorists themselves.

In the long run, passengers flying from international hubs such as Heathrow and Gatwick could even face a lie-detector test before they board.

In America behaviour detection officers are working at a dozen airports, including Washington Dulles and Boston Logan. The programme, called Screening Passengers by Observation Technique, or Spot, is run by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

“There are infinite ways to find things to use as a weapon and infinite ways to hide them,” said Kip Hawley, the director of the TSA. “But if you can identify the individual, it’s by far the better way to find the threat.”

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Extended News; United Kingdom; War on Terror
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In America behaviour detection officers are working at a dozen airports, including Washington Dulles and Boston Logan. The programme, called Screening Passengers by Observation Technique, or Spot, is run by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Good to know this is happening.

1 posted on 08/20/2006 8:30:44 AM PDT by aculeus
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To: aculeus
Good to know this is happening.

Yup.

And it gives new meaning to the term flying squad :)

2 posted on 08/20/2006 8:33:15 AM PDT by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: aculeus
The “behaviour detection squads” will patrol terminals to monitor the gestures, conversations and facial expressions of passengers.

Passengers who are Muslims between the ages of 17 and 40 would be a good start.

3 posted on 08/20/2006 8:34:55 AM PDT by JennysCool (Roll out the Canarble Wagon!)
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To: aculeus

4 posted on 08/20/2006 8:36:20 AM PDT by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: aculeus

This should have been SOP worldwide, on 9-12-01, IMO. Screw the profiling crap protesters!


5 posted on 08/20/2006 8:36:53 AM PDT by butternut_squash_bisque (The recipe's at my FR HomePage. Try it!)
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To: aculeus
Adopt the proven El Al methods, why try to reinvent a successful system?
6 posted on 08/20/2006 8:39:36 AM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: aculeus

I'd like to know why this wasn't implemented already?


7 posted on 08/20/2006 8:41:43 AM PDT by Canard
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To: JennysCool

Yes, and males in particular.


8 posted on 08/20/2006 8:41:57 AM PDT by john drake
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To: aculeus
One of their aims will be to spot those who may be concealing fear or anxiety

I get anxious that TSA perverts will grope my wife and daughter. I'm afraid they will give those in Muslim garb a pass but search me, a bona fide American. So, am I going to set off the Spot squad? If this was not so serious a plight for America, One sees Homeland Security and Swat teams that assault innocent passengers as the modern Keystone Cops.

9 posted on 08/20/2006 8:43:26 AM PDT by LoneRangerMassachusetts (The only good Mullah is a dead Mullah. The only good Mosque is the one that used to be there.)
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To: john drake
Yes, and males in particular.

That would be foolish ... the latest rage is female suicide bombers, and females hiding bombs in baby gear.

10 posted on 08/20/2006 8:48:24 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: Canard

Passengers and flight crew have been doing this since 911. When it is your life on the line, people have a knack for zeroing in on things "just not right".


11 posted on 08/20/2006 9:03:13 AM PDT by CindyDawg
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To: aculeus

Sounds good to me! Two thumbs way up!


12 posted on 08/20/2006 9:04:47 AM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: LoneRangerMassachusetts

We should have "teams" and require the screeners and behavior monitors to fly with the passengers they searched or monitored.


13 posted on 08/20/2006 9:08:27 AM PDT by CindyDawg
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To: aculeus
" in America, where behaviour detection squads are already deployed at airports."

Thanks a bunch Times of Londonistan...

I am sure the ACLU, CAIR and other leftie loons will be right on this come monday morning.

14 posted on 08/20/2006 9:10:50 AM PDT by spokeshave (The Democrat Party stands for open treason in a time of war.)
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To: aculeus

Unfortunately, that's subjective reasoning. How to interpret "acting suspiciously" is the operative phrase here. Taking 20 trips to the bathroom or just generally pacing would constitute suspicious behavior. That's what I do--stay in motion when I arrive at the airport because I've got a problem sitting down until I get inside the plane and buckle up. I can just see me arrested for "acting suspciously". Oh, brother!


15 posted on 08/20/2006 9:13:18 AM PDT by lilylangtree
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To: lilylangtree

You can't be arrested for "acting suspiciously."


16 posted on 08/20/2006 9:15:15 AM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: CindyDawg
We should have "teams" and require the screeners and behavior monitors to fly with the passengers they searched or monitored.

Great minds think alike department.

I've thought that all screeners should be ordered to have an overnight bag at their workplace.

On a regular basis randomly-chosen screeners will be ordered to get on a randomly-selected flight.

17 posted on 08/20/2006 9:16:49 AM PDT by aculeus
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To: lilylangtree
I can just see me arrested for "acting suspciously". Oh, brother!

Sigh.

Terror avoidance is not law enforcement.

No one will be arrested for non-crimes.

18 posted on 08/20/2006 9:18:47 AM PDT by aculeus
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To: lilylangtree

Taking 20 trips to the bathroom or just generally pacing would constitute suspicious behavior. That's what I do--stay in motion when I arrive at the airport because I've got a problem sitting down until I get inside the plane and buckle up...


No more Starbucks for you!


19 posted on 08/20/2006 9:20:25 AM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: aculeus; Paleo Conservative
Good to know this is happening.

The ACLU should be trumped at airports! Profile me - please!

20 posted on 08/20/2006 9:27:44 AM PDT by phantomworker ("Don't accuse me of your imagination.")
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