Security Control

Heathrow has one of the most modern and effective security systems in the world, and without making any concessions to their rigorous standards they do all that they can to minimise inconvenience to passengers. The sight of armed police patrols is not as curious to many overseas passengers as it is to the British, but it is one of the overt indications that security is taken very seriously at Heathrow. The responsible air traveller will take security equally seriously, and do what is possible to help the system that operates on behalf of all.

The Security Control points are the barrier between the public areas (Groundside or Landside) and the operational areas (Airside), and passengers moving through to Airside must be in possession of a valid ticket or boarding card. As with check-in, a lot of the congestion at the Security Control points is caused by passengers who either don't know what the procedure is, and who therefore take ages to move through, or those who believe that security is a game. The security personnel will never find amusing the little quip made about bombs or guns in somebody's baggage, and a missed flight will be the least of the problems faced by the joker.

There is no cause for concern about film in cameras, video tapes, music tapes and CDs, computers and other electronic gadgets passing through the screening process. They will come to no harm but, if these items are in a bag or briefcase, you may be asked to operate them to prove their use.