Plane spotters recruited for anti-terror work

[Mark Gobell]

Plane spotters recruited for anti-terror work

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=3LDC5JV0RJ3IFQFI QMGCFFWAVCBQUIV0?xml=/news/2007/07/18/nplane118.xml

By Paul Stokes
Last Updated: 3:00am BST 19/07/2007

Plane spotters are being recruited as police look-outs in the fight against terror attacks on Britain’s airports.

Plane spotters recruited for anti-terror surveillance

Detectives have called a meeting with the aircraft enthusiasts to discuss plans for their help in surveillance at Durham Tees Valley Airport.

The “anoraks” often occupy vantage points around the terminal building and are being considered as “extra eyes and ears” for security purposes.

Det Supt Neil Malkin, of Durham Police, said: “We have thought for some time the plane spotters may be a very useful source of information.

"They are at the site on a regular basis and could potentially be the first to spot any suspicious activity.

"This idea has worked in other areas and if there are sufficient numbers interested, it could be just as effective up here.”

The force stressed the idea was raised long before the recent attack at Glasgow airport’s terminal building using a blazing vehicle.

Plane spotters will meet police at the airport next week to consider introducing an Airport Watch scheme similar to one introduced at Bristol Airport.

Nicola Baines, Durham Tess Valley airport services manager said: “Such a scheme will allow the police and other agencies to share information more easily and effectively.”

Passengers using the airport, near Darlington, to head to Tenerife yesterday were less enthusiastic about the use of volunteers in the sensitive area of security.

Danielle Newport, 20, a call centre worker from Sunderland, said: “I can’t believe some geeks in bobble hats are supposed to protect us from hardened terrorists.

"The police might live to regret this because they’ll be getting hundreds of calls from the spotters.

"If terrorists have targeted a plane and you are on it there is nothing a plane spotter can do to help you. It’s a crackpot plan.”

David Mercer, 24, a tattoo artist, from Hetton-le-hole, Co Durham, who was awaiting a flight to Tenerife, said: “It’s stupid - what exactly is a plane spotter going to do?

"If that is our protection against terrorists then I am worried. The terrorists would never stop me flying but I would like to see more security at the airport.”

Steven Doherty, 38, a care worker from Glasgow, said: “It sounds a bit like desperate measures to me.

"What are we going to have - vigilante plane spotters attacking potential terrorists at airports?

"Realistically, if something is going to happen there is very little anything can be done to stop it. The only reason the attack failed at Glasgow airport was because the terrorists messed up - it wasn’t the police that stopped them.”

Ashok Kumar, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: “At first sight it seems a bit odd, but then we do have neighbourhood watch, and that does help the police in their work.

"However it can be no substitute for proper policing and tight and tough security from professionals, who know the kind of threat they and we could be up against.”

A Bristol International Airport spokesman said its Airport Watch was introduced in March and used many aviation enthusiasts who regular watched aircraft from around the perimeter.

He said the scheme is about making them aware what they should look out for and who to contact if they have any concerns.

==============================================

Today's announcement comes 9 days and 11 months after the chemistry lab in aircraft toilets fairy tale of 10.8.2006

[kc]

dont forget, these "geeks in bobble hats" were also able to work together and provide hard evidence of CIA rendition flights whilst the rest of us were just moaning about them from our armchairs

[Busker]

[Mark Gobell]

What are they supposed to witness as far as terrorism is concerned ?

[Disco_Destroyer]

Oh you know, oversized baggage, liquid, ticking packages you know the sort of thing!
Trouble is I'd guess anybody would report things out of the ordinary, plane spotters included so, I'd say its just the next stage of 1984 where the dumb prols get to dob on each other!

[Mark Gobell]

With my incredibly powerful binoculars I saw the suspects in the aircraft toilets at 30,000 feet mixing up the HMTD me lud.

Good points made about probable non-disclosure agreements and the thin end of a very obvious terror related meme to kick start Admiral Sir Alan West's snitching campaign.

[Mark Gobell]

Article covering this issue at the Plane Spotters website LAAS

The scheme is known as THE AVIATION ENTHUSIASTS SECURITY SCHEME - taess.

http://www.laasdata.com/taess.html

[Long Tooth]

Plane spotter to Chief Constable, '' hello chief, i have just spotted three caucasian men, donning false beards and in the process of dressing as arabs, they appear to be littering the area with 2 Korans, 3 return train journey tickets and fake ID's, what shall i do?''

Chief constable to plane spotter, ''er well no, er yes well, they are on a test, just move on and move away from the area immediatly, have you taken any photos of the men? yes? good, bring the film to the station at once and dont tell anyone, its all under control now, thanks for the warning''

Chief Con to head of MI5 '' hello Q, our cover is blown, the big cheese is in the oven and has melted''

head of MI5 to chief, ''the big cheese has melted?, i am pulling the boys out now, make sure the spotter has no photos of the men donning false beards and arab headwear, what he has photo's, well get them off him at once, you know the procedure, see you at the lodge tuesday, i'll put in a word with the lodges grandmaster but it will not be enough to get you up to the 33rd degree level yet''.