Police raise airport security fears

New airport security fears were raised today after police warned of confusion between different Whitehall departments over their roles in preventing terror attacks.

Scotland Yard and BAA, the airports group that runs Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, have highlighted the dangers of a split in responsibility between the Department for Transport and the Home Office.

The warning, which comes after a series of embarrassing security breaches since the 11 September attacks, has been submitted in a wide-ranging review of security at British airports conducted by Sir John Wheeler.

Senior police chiefs are understood to have told Sir John that there may be a need for new legislation giving officers greater powers over security in airports.

They also want the Government to set up a high-level, inter-departmental committee to reduce tensions between ministries and streamline decision making.

Despite the concerns of police and aviation officials, it is widely believed within the industry that Sir John, who is due to report to ministers in the autumn, will stop short of recommending a single, dedicated airport security agency.

The idea of such an agency, with control over all aspects of security from baggage- handling to policing, was publicly mooted in March by David Veness, Britain's chief anti-terrorist officer, in the aftermath of two multi-million pound robberies at Heathrow within a month.

In an outspoken attack on existing security measures, Mr Veness said at the time that there were "high streets in London that provide better CCTV coverage than Heathrow" and warned of the threat of terrorist action by Islamic extremists.

Insiders have suggested that support for the idea of an overarching agency has dwindled in government circles, because of problems that have arisen with a similar system in the United States.

John Magaw, head of the US Transportation Security Administration, resigned last month amid resentment at the way the White House was taking over responsibility for security at the country's 429 airports.

However, the need for urgent action to tackle flaws in security at British airports is widely recognised.

One industry source was today reported as saying: "The belief is that the UK system of security is based on a solid foundation but needs to be improved upon."