A BOLTON aviation expert has backed calls for an overhaul of security checks at airports.

Chris Yates of Yates Consulting was speaking after British Airways chairman Martin Broughton branded some parts of the security programme as “completely redundant” and that the UK should not “kowtow” to the Americans every time the US wanted something done.

Mr Yates from Egerton said airports needed to “sweep out the rubbish” with regards to the numerous security checks.

He said: “Taking shoes off is a pain for airports and passengers, and does nothing to improve security.

“The same applies to taking off belts.”

But the aviation expert did concede some checks, such as looking in bags with laptop computers, were necessary but believed there were better ways of carrying them out.

Mr Yates said: “We cannot get rid of metal detectors or random body scans but they can be made easier by harnessing new technology.”

Mr Yates said new technology is currently being developed by a Canadian company he is working with.

Optosecurity Inc is a leader in the next generation detection of physical threats.

Its XMS Threat Detection Software Suite, currently in development, will enable existing and new checkpoint X-ray systems to detect liquid explosives, chemical threats, in-bag bottles and concealed firearms.

Optosecurity can take a laptop out of a bag in a virtual sense by harnessing this new technology.

An overhaul of security checks will be beneficial, according to Mr Yates.

He said: “By doing this we can make it easier to manage from an airport point of view, fromthe airline point of view, and from a cost perspective.”

BA chairman Mr Broughton called for British airports to only carry out security checks they believe necessary.

Mr Broughton said: “America does not do internally a lot of the things they demand that we do. We shouldn’t stand for that. We should say, “we’ll only do things which we consider to be essential and that you Americans also consider essential”.