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New York Has Introduced Random Searches, but Can Such Measures Stop the Transport Terrorists?

Posted on: Saturday, 23 July 2005, 15:00 CDT

COUNTERING the mass attacks across London's sprawling transport network is an almost impossible task.

The city's 6800 buses alone cover 610 square miles, and carry six million people on an average day over 700 routes.

The Underground has 275 stations, with 500 trains spanning some 253 miles of rail and serving three million passengers a day.

However, fewer than 2000 police officers patrol both networks.

Security authorities across the world admit there is no sure way to prevent attacks on railways and buses.

One reason is obvious:

unlike airports, passengers are rarely subject to strict security checks.

Another reason is practical:

London Transport, for example, insists bags cannot be checked or airport-style metal detectors and X-ray machines installed in the Underground because the network would be brought to a standstill, and journey times increased by 30 to 40 minutes.

Finance is another key factor: in New York, the number of police patrolling the subway after the London attack on July 7 has doubled - at a cost of pounds-1.2m a week in overtime.

Japan, regardless of precautions since the sarin gas attack on subway trains in Tokyo more than 10 years ago, is among countries to admit attacks on mass transit systems cannot be stopped.

Even Israel is resigned to accepting there will be casualties, with its measures aimed at reducing body counts. Worstcase scenarios are now based on stopping suicide bombers before entering buses, with perhaps three people instead of 20 dying.

In London, a 28-strong team of sniffer dogs has been enlisted to carry out checks at Underground ticket turnstiles and on trains, but experts question its effectiveness.

British Transport Police (BTP) has also rejected airlinetype security on buses, trains or the Tube, but stressed there will be more CCTV, random searches, and uniformed and plainclothes officers on patrol.

Currently, some 1200 BTP officers patrol the Tube and a further 700 from London's Metropolitan Police travel on the buses.

New York yesterday began random searches of packages and backpacks carried by people entering the transport system in response to the London attacks. At best, one in five was stopped at Lafayette Avenue, while searches of buses and ferries took place only at particular points.

One source described the efforts across a network of more than 460 stations carrying 4.5 million passengers a day as impracticable and would not solve the problem, adding:

"Most people realise that determined individuals will be able to get through whatever technological barriers are put in place."

There were also civil rights issues, with the American Civil Liberties Union warning random searches violated basic rights and could invite racial or religious profiling.

A spokeswoman said: "The plan is not workable and will not make New Yorkers more secure, and will inconvenience them as police go about finding a needle in a haystack."

In London, police were out in force in an attempt to reassure commuters. Andy Trotter, BTP deputy chief constable, admitted: "This is a huge challenge and we cannot pretend it is not.

"But we are not going to have airline-type security on the buses, trains or Tube - that would bring things to a halt."

Business leaders yesterday issued a four-point plan to thwart more suicide bombers.

London Chamber of Commerce and the Asian Business Association said that airportstyle technology to detect explosives should be installed on the Underground, although it was conceded it would be practical to scan Tube passengers on a random basis; all security checks should be outside high-profile targets, arguing it has been effective in other parts of the world; more businesses should use the pager system run by police to communicate unfolding terrorist atrocities; and police should make more use of their extensive stop- and-search powers.

Union leaders yesterday expressed "extreme disappointment" after failing to secure agreement for a series of demands aimed at boosting security on London Underground in the wake of the latest attacks in the capital.

Officials from the Rail Maritime and Transport union called for more staff, reinstatement of rail guards on all Tubes and safety equipment for employees.

Bobby Law, the union's London regional organiser said that none of the demands had been accepted.

Speaking after a meeting with London Underground officials and Ken Livingstone, London mayor, Mr Law said he was "extremely disappointed" at the outcome.

He warned that workers had the right to withdraw their labour if they had fears over security.

"Our members know they have every right to withdraw their labour, " he added.

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said more staff were now needed on the Underground and said plans to reduce the number of station employees should be dropped.

Source: Herald, The; Glasgow (UK)

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