Criticism of use of private security guards for frisking

The selective “frisking” of passengers waiting to embark at Palma's Son Sant Joan airport, introduced at the beginning of December, have caused all types of comments, although most of the passengers have accepted the measure as a better guarantee of security at airports. The frisking of passengers and checking hand luggage when they have already gone through controls was introduced by the airport authority AENA in keeping with European Union regulations, and have caused virtually no delays. However, it is feared that the new security measures may cause queues in the summer season. One of the chief complaints is that the frisking can be done by private security guards. German Rodriguez, a law graduate and professor of private security, says that the frisking should be done by the police or the Guardia Civil, as “public security is the responsibility of the State.” He added that it was up to the central government “to guarantee the security of everyone, Spaniards and foreigners, who are in Spain.” But he admitted that the use of private security guards at the airports had not been rejected by the man in the street but, he insisted, until the regulations in force are changed, the frisking should only be carried out by members of the State security forces, that is, police or Guardia Civil.