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Guidelines for the Maintenance of Air Cargo Security

NCJ Number
80880
Date Published
1980
Length
64 pages
Annotation
These guidelines are intended to assist in the establishment of cargo security in the air freight industry.
Abstract
Air cargo security should be targeted at the two major types of illegal cargo removal: theft (the removal of an entire cargo unit) and pilferage (theft of a portion of the contents of a cargo unit). The casual pilferer is almost always an employee, and pilferage can usually be effectively countered by a few simple security measures, such as unannounced inspection of lunch boxes, pocketbooks, and lockers, along with the display of prominent signs warning employees that anyone found stealing will be prosecuted. The systematic thief is not as easily discouraged as the casual pilferer. The several sections of these guidelines all apply to the prevention of systematic theft. Some of the more important security requirements are to (1) establish an effective screening and evaluation procedure in the hiring of security personnel; (2) maintain enough security forces on patrol buildings, grounds, and perimeter defenses; (3) install mechanical and electronic intrusion detection devices where appropriate; (4) maintain accurate methods of taking physical inventories and accounting for cargo received and delivered; and (5) investigate all losses immediately and report them to the police and intelligence agencies. After recommending an organization for security committees, the report provides detailed guidelines for personnel security procedure; physical security; and a typical system for handling and processing air cargo, high value cargo-handling procedures, passenger terminal security, and baggage security. The appendixes contain syllabuses for the training of security personnel, an air cargo security questionnaire, the 24-point program of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the Kennedy Airport Security Council mandates.