Reid: Security operation time limited

Sunday, 13 August 2006 12:00 AM

Home secretary John Reid has said that stringent security measures causing massive delays at Britain's airports will have to be toned down soon.

In an interview with the BBC, Mr Reid explained that he understood the "huge inconvenience" caused by the "extraordinary regime" but insisted that for now the terrorist threat level had to remain at critical.

"We know it is not indefinitely sustainable," Mr Reid explained, responding to attacks from airline bosses who have criticised the government for failing to provide adequate preparation for the unprecedented delays imposed.

Michael O'Leary, chief executive of low-budget airline Ryanair, said that the government was "allowing the extremists to achieve many of their objectives."

Mr Reid responded to this by insisting that the conspiracy uncovered by police on Thursday was a "major plot" which created an ongoing threat to society.

"We believe . that we have the main targets from that particular surveillance and plot, but as I said there are still people out there who would carry out such attacks," he explained.

The home secretary said he hoped to find a middle way between heightening awareness of the terrorist risk and causing exaggerated public fears about the nature of the threat.

"For the past year I have been making speeches. drawing people's attention to this," he said.

"It is always difficult to get the right balance between scaremongering and, on the other hand, giving a degree of reassurance," he added.

Tags:
• crime
,
• domestic policy
,
• terrorism