Profiling
discriminatory and a violation of civil step this way…” However, it is more “...enter a boutique at a
liberties. These are valid likely to be, “Thank you, you may
arguments...sometimes. However, there proceed to your flight…” An shopping mall and, if
is crude profiling and there is professional experienced profiler can complete a
profiling. Any profiling procedure is only as Comprehensive Profiling without the you are a woman that
discriminatory as the rules and processes passenger having any indication as to
which govern it. In a professionally applied why the interview took place or what appears to use
passenger profiling process, the risk of the indicators were. There is no need to
discrimination can be considerably mention nationality, even though that perfume, you will be
reduced and controlled. might be the reason the profiler was
Most profiling programmes are strictly prompted to ask additional questions. approached by a sales
based on the identification of criteria – In a Comprehensive Profiling
sometimes referred to as threat process, the detection of indicators is assistant with a
indicators or suspicious signs. Those who the first tier, the interview is the
meet the criteria are then subjected to second tier and the use of additional tester...”
additional screening procedures. technology the third. Depending on the
A simple approach to profiling might indicators and the answers from the Discrimination Control
be based on extremely crude criteria; passenger, the profiler may decide the Is this process discriminatory? First of
for example, an Asian-appearing male threat that was inferred by the initial all, the passenger has an “out”. That in
travelling with another Asian-appearing indicator is no longer perceived to be a itself relieves discrimination to a
male. Or, it may be less crude with a threat. This decision is achieved by certain extent, as the additional
mixture of behavioural and asking questions and requesting checks are not automatic and hard-
documentation indicators. Regardless, further documentation in order to wired into the process. Of course the
the result is the same - an additional alleviate the concern. In most cases indicators themselves and the
security check. the passenger is released to the flight. subsequent decision to interview could
Simple profiling is used daily. Enter a In the end, Comprehensive Profiling be considered discriminatory, but still,
boutique at a shopping mall and, if you allows the passenger an “out” from the there is no immediate “Step this
are a woman that appears to use third tier. way….” and the process is much more
perfume, you will be approached by a The interviewing part of the acceptable to passengers.
sales assistant with a tester. Likewise, process is the challenge for the Comprehensive Profiling includes two
customs and immigration officials use profiler. Imagination, common other important discrimination-control
a similar approach. If you meet their sense, logic, strength of character factors - standardisation and supervision.
criteria, “Step this way please, and and speed of thought, combined The criteria for selection to interview
open your bag.” with an ability to “read” the is standardised and objective. There is
It is nearly impossible to make simple passenger, and slightly intimidate no allowance for subjectivity. The
profiling completely non- them whilst striving to provide criteria must be simple, clear and easy
discriminatory. The only way is to make exceptional customer service during for the profiler to apply. In this way one
the criteria non-discriminatory. In that the entire process are key skills. It profiler will react the same way as
case the procedure will fail because, in takes high quality training and another to the presentation of a
today’s world, there are some plenty of practice. specific indicator in behaviour,
countries and nationalities that are
more prone and exposed to terrorist
activity than others. So we are in a bit
of a quandary. Discriminate and face
the accusation of racism or build a
weak system that is ineffective.
There is, however, a third way – one
that I call Comprehensive Profiling.
Comprehensive Profiling
When applying Comprehensive
Profiling, discrimination is minimised,
controls are in place to avoid abuse and
there is no automatic “fit the mould”
and “Please step this way….” The
application of profiling criteria is only
the first stage of Comprehensive
Profiling and not the deciding factor.
The profiling criteria simply prompt the
profiler to begin an interview. The result
of the interview is perhaps, “Please
Aviationsecurityinternational October 2009 www.asi-mag.com 31
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