With all the current talk about shonky baggage handlers, terrorists etc, what are your opinions on this?
Several years ago, machines were developed which can "see" through clothing and the person being scanned is virtually nude. So if they are carrying anything which may look suspicious, they can be taken on one side and checked out. I know we are scanned for metal, but what about potentially dangerous plastic items. I went a while ago to a big trade seminar in Perth where all those attending were given a hard plastic dagger shaped letter opener, with a plastics manufacturer's name embossed on it. A formidable weapon in the wrong hands and virtually undetectable by the current scans.
I have seen the security video on TV of some of the US Trade Centre terrorists going through an airport in New York and something like this would have spotted their weapons and possibly have averted this disaster and possibly also some of the retaliatory repercussions.
About two years ago a machine of this type was used by English police in a raid on a pub frequented by known drug dealers. The street was blocked off, the suspects rounded up and given the choice of being scanned or being taken into waiting vehicles and privately strip searched. The police action netted a number of criminals, was generally supported by the public and the police said that they had mobile units and would do it again as and when considered necessary.
The excuse given by various governments for not using these machines at airports is that "people wouldn't like it". This is absolutely fatuous. Governments the world over do all sorts of things that "people don't like" and in many instances the alleged necessity is highly questionable.
My personal opinion is that these machines should be standard equipment at all international and important national airports and other strategic transit places, in Australia, in Bali and everywhere else. But what do others think?