please empty your brain below
At least none of the places you visited required you to take off your belt before going through the arch. 'No belt' is compulsory at the Palace Of Westminster, Portcullis House (the MP's office building) and the London Assembly building but the logic behind it is puzzling.

Is it because the belt has metal in it? No, because and all-plastic belt also has to be taken off. Is it because a belt could be an offensive weapon? No, because the belt can be put back on again after the check. Very puzzling.

RayL | 16.01.19 - 7:25 a.m. | #

Subconsciously, no security = not worth seeing.

Jimmy | 16.01.19 - 7:47 a.m. | #

The MoL intermittent check is particularly stupid, as is their policy to not check children. All it needs is a bomber with flexible hours with a kid to help them.

Security checks dissuade me from giving donations, as I don't want my money wasted. Low risk, cash poor organisations should not employ professional security when they rely on amateur docents.

John B | 16.01.19 - 7:56 a.m. | #

Given the nature of modern terrorist attacks, these security checks seem a bit aimless (armed terrorists would just shoot everyone on the way in, or have their nerve agent in a perfume bottle), perhaps they offer false reassurance to the nervous, the need to be seen doing something, as has been mentioned the queue for a security check is just as good a target.

Still Anon | 16.01.19 - 8:11 a.m. | #

As I use the Great Court at the BM as my London winter 'office' I've been entering via the back entrance since that daft security route was introduced. Much faster even with my laptop bag.

Kevin | 16.01.19 - 8:28 a.m. | #

As for "diverting through the shop": I tried that last month, when the guards (from behind the alternative door) started shouting "excuse me, Sir" in no uncertain terms, insisting on visiting them first for a bag search, after which I was free to turn around, exit the exhibition area, and enter the shop. All very friendly with a dose of good banter, but they are aware of this.

It's unfortunate that the checkpoints now disturb the aesthetics and visitor flow of generally beautiful buildings, which weren't designed for this, not even the recent ones.

commonliner | 16.01.19 - 8:28 a.m. | #

It’s instructive to wonder what the guards would do if they found anything threatening. So little room to manoeuvre - are they meant to take the terrorist on? Call the police and wait? .. and often with a pressing queue of visitors, some of whom don’t speak English.

Liz | 16.01.19 - 8:33 a.m. | #

Many security checks are pointless security theater just to reassure someone that "something has been done". It doesn't matter that the "something" is pointless or disproportionate.

The more we have these pointless security checks, the more the ne'er-do-wells win.

Jon Jones | 16.01.19 - 8:34 a.m. | #

Yes, the danger with security checks is that they lead to a queue of people forming on the street outside, which itself becomes a target for terrorists, etc.

Adrian | 16.01.19 - 8:51 a.m. | #

It's good to see that DG has concealed some details. To be consistent though, I have to also say that it's good that some places are making an effort to be more secure.
Shame that they have to. But we are where we are.

Malcolm | 16.01.19 - 8:52 a.m. | #

At the MoL, since you can easily see from outside whether or not the scurity checks are in operation, anybody intent on mischief would simply wait for a suitable time. And a few months ago the cafe inside had steel cutlery that would not have been allowed through the check.

In many places I find the bag checks are very cursory, with only the main compartment being looked at. At the BM back entrance not long ago, the check consisted of my being asked "Is there anything sharp in your bag sir?" But then I'm old, white and middle class looking.

Tony Woolf | 16.01.19 - 9:13 a.m. | #

At the British Museum recently I was diverted through the chicane route (although it was not clear that the left hand, more direct route was for members, etc. - it seemed more random than that).

Within the tent I was diverted away from the security checks as a non-bag person but the purpose of sending even us through the "tent" area seemed to be to direct us towards the donations desks. The marshal who directed me away from the security check even went to the extent of directing me to "position 11" (or whatever) which was the next free donations person. I ignored their instructions and proceeded to the main doors without donating. The experience and subterfuge actually made me less likely to donate on the day.

| 16.01.19 - 9:18 a.m. | #

My experience of security checks is a similar mixture

What annoys me is where, under the guise of "security", places refuse to allow bottled drinks in where they sell their own ridiculously expensive drinks inside. This usually seems to be the strictest part of their security, the rest often being a cursory bag check! I've never had this problem anywhere else, such as museums etc., even where the other forms of security are more stricter.

When I went to the BM, there was only a short queue, although the diversion did really spoil things

Rogmi | 16.01.19 - 9:25 a.m. | #

I popped into the Imperial War Museum 10 days ago, just to kill some time in their nice warm cafe.
Just a table for bag search there, which is really all the security I would hope to find in such places.

Cornish Cockney | 16.01.19 - 10:24 a.m. | #

The British Museum's security arrangements (eg portakabins, detours) is not recent it was introduced at the time of the Westminster attack which is almost two years...

Rog | Homepage | 16.01.19 - 10:37 a.m. | #

We went through the long-winded security check at the British Museum as described by DG at the tail end of the summer holidays in 2017. We arrived at 7pm when there was no queue, but still had to walk the entire length of the chicane. Though the security personnel gave our bags quite the thorough search as there was no one else behind us.

As I haven't been back since I can't say whether these arrangements were only in place for the summer season(s) or whether they've been there permanently for several years now. Perhaps someone else can confirm.

E1W-er | 16.01.19 - 10:39 a.m. | #

In the time it has taken for me to post my comment Rog has suggested that the arrangements have been in place for a number of years now.

E1W-er | 16.01.19 - 10:41 a.m. | #

Precise security arrangements are often different on different days and at different times.

I visited the British Museum more than once last year without being invited to tour the grounds first.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 16.01.19 - 10:59 a.m. | #

The rear entrance of the British Museum is the one to go for (unless you have arrived just after a coach party). If you see a long queue at the front entrance, you will get in quicker by taking a walk around the block.

Ian Paton | 16.01.19 - 11:01 a.m. | #

Would be interesting if you had a friend with a different appearance follow you ten or so minutes later. Not much talk about "profiling" these days, though it must still occur.

V | 16.01.19 - 12:14 p.m. | #

"..... if I see the arch in operation, as is often the case, I sigh, turn around and go somewhere else."

Would not a potential "terrorist" do likewise and come back another day?

Tim | 16.01.19 - 12:20 p.m. | #

Security theatre is pointless - most people carrying bags are female - most terrorists are male. I can carry more items in my coat than many bags can hold and that never gets checked. As others have mentioned carry a laptop rucksack with lots of pockets the only one that is checked is the one you volunteer.

| 16.01.19 - 12:28 p.m. | #

It's interesting to see which buildings change their arrangements over time. Tate Modern has checked my bag every single time i've visited over the last few years (about 20 times). But MoL seems is much less severe that it used to be.

One venue i visited recently (which is on DG's list) which normally checks bags wasn't doing so, and i asked why. Apparently it was due to a lack of staff !

The National Army Museum (which I visit regularly for their Friday morning talks) checks every single bag - and normally they are nice and quick. But sometimes you get a security staff member that forces you to empty every single pocket, completely. Way over the top compared to a standard bag check.

ADS | Homepage | 16.01.19 - 12:36 p.m. | #

This doesn't happen in other parts of the coumtry. London seems to be saying this is a nasty dangerous place; would terrorists please go away and make somewhere else nasty and dangerous instead.

kev | 16.01.19 - 1:03 p.m. | #

I have a Pacemaker, the arches and even hand held metal detectors can be dangerous. Airports know how to handle the situation but are the museum staff properly trained?

Chris | 16.01.19 - 1:48 p.m. | #

My last visit to the BM was with small children - we were waved through into the members' line so as to have a shorter wait, which I thought was quite considerate.

martin | 16.01.19 - 3:16 p.m. | #

As some above have observed, most security "checks" are no such thing - it's all just theatre, albeit generally well intended, and usually easily circumvented.
I recommend a read of "Against Security - How We Go Wrong at Airports, Subways, and Other Sites of Ambiguous Danger" by Harvey Molotch (with whom I have no connection). It's a fascinating read.

Tim W | 16.01.19 - 3:47 p.m. | #

You had a busy day DG. Maybe some places are more worried about you leaving with things, rather than bringing them in.

For the British Museum, enter with a child in a buggy and you'll sidestep the chicane thankfully. I thought the implication you had to pay to enter, when bullied towards the donation counter at the back of the tent, was a bit distasteful.

Lux | 16.01.19 - 4:05 p.m. | #

The British Museum's donation counters were unstaffed on my visit.

On a previous visit, yes, I was wholly unimpressed by the effrontery of being expected to queue to make a voluntary donation.

The Science Museum tries a similar trick, but without a lengthy detour.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 16.01.19 - 4:11 p.m. | #

My last visit to the Chelsea Flower Show was the year they stepped up searches (probably 6 or 7 years ago now).

As an old, rather overly-loud, overly-well-spoken ex-senior army type behind us remarked, the people carrying out the bag searches and pat-downs looked much more like terrorists than the people being searched by them.

Someone nearby said to him, "That's rather politically incorrect these days, surely?!" "Maybe, but tell me it's not true!" he replied.

Blue Witch | Homepage | 16.01.19 - 5:19 p.m. | #

Yes, this is unheard of in much of Great Britain outside of London. Frankly it sounds intolerable. I'd prefer active measures to be taken against those suspected on solid grounds of harbouring a threat to such places than this kind of harassment of allcomers.

Dominic H | 16.01.19 - 5:22 p.m. | #

Worst I've had outside of airports was at the Sheffield Arena for a convention, and on the bridge between Birmingham International station and the NEC. I haven't been to any gigs or football matches since the terrorism in Manchester, but judging by the signs in Manchester Victoria at the entrance to the arena, security is definitely taken seriously, as it should be after said atrocity.

TheLupineOne | 16.01.19 - 5:41 p.m. | #

Thanks for doing this research DG.

I completely agree with you about the MoL, an utterly ludicrous over the top security check.

It’s a museum, not an international transport hub. I suffered this check once but never again. Unlike other museums where the less intrusive checks are usually performed pleasantly and respectfully, the MoL one I was subjected to was officious and deeply unpleasant.

The MoL don’t seem to understand that when these checks are in operation those conducting them are its “public face”, yet given the way the check I experienced was conducted, it was such a total turn-off that like you, if I now see them in operation, I just walk on by.

I also agree with John B, the MoL are a charity that needs donations, they want me to spend money in the museum, yet if they have funds to waste on this level of check then they obviously don’t need any money from me.

IanD | 16.01.19 - 7:26 p.m. | #

The O2 has a bizarre arrangement where anyone who has their bag checked also has to walk through an arch, but those without a bag skip the arch as well. They seem unable to see the flaw...

Andrew S | 16.01.19 - 8:24 p.m. | #

I think the reason for one-way-in and the other-way-out at the National Gallery is that there's some building works just inside the surface level Trafalgar Square entrance. However, if you nip in through the cafe...

ActonMan | 16.01.19 - 9:15 p.m. | #

I like browsing the bookstore in the Museum of London. But with thoese security checks on I won't enter the museum anymore.

Welcome | 16.01.19 - 10:00 p.m. | #

On my only recent visit to the British Museum, nobody actually checked that I was legitimately a “ticket holder” so I would advise people join that queue regardless...

Stu | 16.01.19 - 11:17 p.m. | #

My last visit to Paris saw me in the security check line for Centre Pompidou. Being given a hard stare by a musclebound guard brandishing an automatic assault rifle rather concentrated the mind.

If we're serious about deterring attacks - something along these lines would likely do the trick. Not terribly 'British' I suppose but nothing much is now - apart from barely- concealed racism from certain corners of 'society'.

drD | 17.01.19 - 1:07 a.m. | #

@Blue Witch

I would say his comments weren’t just “rather politically incorrect” but more akin to hate speech....

Joe | 17.01.19 - 6:23 a.m. | #

Accusing someone that you have never met of hate speech at a scene you did not witness might also be hate speech.

Think I am going to start a campaign to ban people from being allowed to vote unless they can prove that they have read 1984

Max Roberts | 17.01.19 - 7:56 a.m. | #

Max - yes, exactly. The concept of 'hate speech' only became enshrined in UK law in January 2013, and I am totally unconvinced that it has furthered the cause as intended.

I used to know a senior Border Force Officer at Stansted airport. She told me that there was widespread belief among such officials that terrorists and smugglers frequently had inside help from people who already worked at the airport.

I really don't understand why such large amounts of money are put into overt and visible security these days.

Blue Witch | 17.01.19 - 8:42 a.m. | #

i think one reason that these places are changing their entrance/exits is to reduce the number of places where they need to set-up and staff bag checks.

for example - the National Gallery now down to two entrances. they just need a single guard on the other doors directing people to the official entrances. must save a decent amount of money - so seems reasonable.

ADS | Homepage | 17.01.19 - 1:17 p.m. | #

I did this at the Bank of England Museum. 30 kids being screened by two staff and an arch. It was so slow I turned round and left. Muttering something along the lines of "Bugger this hassle for a game of soldiers!"

Andrew Jarman | 17.01.19 - 3:15 p.m. | #

I have to surrender my secateurs each time I enter the Imperial War Museum after nearby work

Noel | 17.01.19 - 7:54 p.m. | #

another thing which winds me up is when security take extra time when there isn't a queue! so customers have to suffer just because security staff have extra time available.

ADS | Homepage | 18.01.19 - 3:24 p.m. | #

Went to the National Gallery today and the hoardings inside the surface level Trafalgar Square (non) entrance have been removed to reveal their new large scale Bridget Riley spotty mural. For now, they still have one-way-in and the other-way-out, but you can still nip in through the cafe.

ActonMan | 20.01.19 - 2:07 a.m. | #

Regarding the British Museum, I have in mind the security checks being introduced after Greenpeace activists scaled the columns and unfurled banners in protest at BP, who were sponsoring an exhibit? A quick search places that in May 16.

Phil | 22.01.19 - 7:10 p.m. | #











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