It only takes seconds to board an empty aircraft and plant a bomb

Chris Yates Aviation security editor

Thieves getting "airside" into a controlled area for a second multi-million pound security van raid makes it highly likely that this was an inside job, said Chris Yates, aviation security editor of Janes Transport.

He told BBC News Online that this theft of around $3m in cash represented an appalling failure of airport security.

And he questioned the seriousness with which the government was taking the issue.

'Inside job'

"If they can get airside they have access to aircraft."

He said in this case the aim was to rob a van.

But he continued: "It only takes seconds to board an empty aircraft and plant a bomb".

He is left with no doubt that someone working inside the airport was involved.

"For this to happen once is a shock to the system but twice suggests that there are people working inside the airport who are either providing security passes to people carrying out the robberies or people have security clearance for the airport," he said.

He said there had been a failure of a relatively simple process of preventing access to a controlled area.

Inquiry awaited

After a robbery in February of �4.6m in foreign cash in a secure zone "airside", Transport Secretary Stephen Byers and Home Secretary David Blunkett demanded an "urgent report" into its implications in a period of heightened security post -11 September.

But Mr Yates said: "One wonders if the government is only paying lip service to the issue of airport security.

"The inquiry should have taken less time."

He said improvements could be made to security by tightening up vetting procedures at perimeter gates.

What might be needed was an up-to-date database which would allow security guards to quickly identify any former members of staff who still had uncancelled passes.

ID cards

Security identity cards are issued at Heathrow by the British Airports Authority (BAA) - which manages the airport - but background checks on staff are the responsibility of the private companies which employ them.

They are required to provide two references which BAA says it is confident the companies take up.

People working in the most secure areas - on board the aircraft and sorting baggage - also have to provide written references for the past 12 months of employment.

Certain workers - those providing security, for example - are also subject to counter-terrorism checks, but BAA said they could not say what those were for security reasons.

Labour backbencher John McDonnell, whose Hayes and Harlington constituency includes Heathrow, called for restrictions on private companies working in and around airports.

"There are numerous other firms operating round Heathrow that don't have rigorous security measures in place, don't do adequate checking and are still gaining access to the airport and putting people at risk," he told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme.