Aviation securityChildren no longer have to remove shoes at airports

Children will no longer have to remove their shoes // Source: freedomcurrent.com

Speaking before Congress on Tuesday, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said that her agency is changing its airport security policy for children twelve years and younger who will no longer be required to remove their shoes at airport checkpoints.

In addition, Napolitano said the agency’s new policies seek to avoid pat downs for children by using other screening techniques. Napolitano was careful to note that the new policy will include some exceptions to ensure that airport security remains unpredictable.

“There will always be some unpredictability built into the system, and there will always be random checks even for groups that we are looking at differently, such as children,” she said.

In previous attacks, terrorists have used children as suicide bombers, so to keep security random, some children will still be required to remove their shoes.

The new airport policies come in response to sharp criticism from travellers that airport screeners are not using common sense when they search young children and the elderly, especially after the introduction of more intrusive screening measures like pat downs.

To help minimize the number of pat downs for children, security screeners have been instructed to send children through metal detectors or body scanners multiple times until they are able to properly scan them. Screeners often have trouble with children as they move during the scanning process creating a blurred image. Other measures include using explosive trace detection tools like hand swabs to avoid pat downs.

“TSA anticipates these changes, which will begin rolling out in select airports this week, will continue to strengthen and streamline the security screening process for travelers,” said Greg Soule, a TSA spokesman.