Was it right for him to be detained over such a trivial matter?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....airport-security.html

It would seem that in 2012 Britain, the great British sense of humour is frowned upon so much so, that you can be detained for it.

/// commenting on the ease with which a woman with her face covered by a hijab, another form of the burqa, had walked through security controls. ///

/// As he placed his scarf and other items into a tray to pass through an X-ray scanner, he quipped to an official: ‘If I was wearing this scarf over my face, I wonder what would happen.’ ///

/// As he went through security where he hoped to meet up with his two grown-up daughters, he was confronted by a woman official who said he was being held because he had made an offensive remark. ///

/// He said: ‘It was impossible to get her to listen to reason. We were then joined by a second female security guard who stated that she was Muslim and was deeply distressed by my
comment. ///

[jno]

that's nothing to the damage you could do with 102ml of shampoo, obviously

[boxtops]

I know AOG's only reporting what is said in the DM, but it's a classic case of reporters not knowing what they are talking about, not being culturally aware. If they don't know the difference between hijab, niqab and burka, they ought to, if they are going to attempt to write about it.

[vulcan]

There are anomalies though, I attended a large air show and had a 3" pair if scissors confiscated from my camera bag. Later, sitting down to lunch, we were given steak 8" knives.

[naomi24]

^^ Exactly. Potty - but that's just my opinion.

[d9f1c7]

Good advice from Sp1814, these people have no sense of humour and even if they did they've heard it all before. is saddens me to say it but we must shuffle past and hope not to become the target of the usage of their little bit of power that they love to use.

[Gromit]

Mr Jones was not having a good day...

// Escorted by the police officer, he was taken through security where he was again subjected to a full search after his hip replacement set off the metal detector alarms. //

[237SJ]

Security/Immigration people at airports are hardly known for their people skills.
Heard at Heathrow this morning - An elderly Chinese gentleman off the Singapore flight was queuing at immigration and an immigration official tried to get him a shortcut with the words "Would you like to come throuh here? You seem a bit doddery." I wonder if he`ll demand an apology?

[Ellipsis]

This was on the Today programme on R4 this morning. I have to say the guy's treatment did sound unreasonable.

John Humphreys asked him on what grounds he was held by security staff. Nobody seemed able to figure it out. Had some kind of "citizen's arrest" taken place?

Once the police arrived it became clear that there was no reason for him to be held whatsoever. It seems a clear abuse of authority by the airport security staff.

He's now considering making a complaint. It should be interesting to see the outcome if he does ...