BA's cameras out to catch thieves

British Airways is to become the first airline to install security cameras in the holds of its aircraft to counter the huge worldwide increase in thefts from planes.

The decision comes after a two-year undercover operation by BA at all of the 260 airports it uses. The airline launched the investigation to tackle the growing problem of thieves entering aircraft holds and helping themselves to laptop computers, jewellery, cameras and camcorders.

Charles de Gaulle Airport, outside Paris, and Johannesburg accounted for half of all passengers' claims for thefts and damage. Four other BA depots at American airports are under scrutiny as part of a drive to eliminate the thefts costing hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

The move follows the arrest of 10 baggage handlers from Charles de Gaulle who were caught by surveillance cameras stealing passengers' property. A similar security operation was mounted recently at Frankfurt where the airline risked losing a big mail contract because of bag-tampering.

Heathrow has also been a trouble spot with five people caught in the past two years and two prosecutions pending. But the airline said the London complex had long ago shed its 1960s image as "Thiefrow."

John Stewardson, operations manager for BA's investigation services group, said the majority of those who performed ground handling work around the world were "excellent, conscientious and law-abiding."

But he said action would be taken against those baggage-handlers suspected of illegal activities.



"As we put more cameras in our aircraft holds, the message to anybody thinking about stealing from our aircraft is that if you do, there is a better-than-even chance of being caught."

Kathy Lewis, customer service development manager for Western Europe, said the airport authority in Paris was now running checks for criminal records on candidates applying for jobs.

A spokesman for the Transport and General Workers' Union, which represents baggage handlers at British airports, said the union had not agreed to the increased surveillance.

- INDEPENDENT