British Gov't Considering Air Marshals

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 02, 2002

British Gov't Considering Air Marshals

The government is considering the introduction of undercover armed police on passenger flights to prevent terrorist hijackings, officials said Sunday.

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The government is considering the introduction of undercover armed police on passenger flights to prevent terrorist hijackings, officials said Sunday.

A report commissioned by the government on airline safety recommends that the "sky marshals" first join only trans-Atlantic flights. If that proved successful, the program should be extended to most flights, the report said.

The proposal is part of a report by former Conservative Party lawmaker Sir John Wheeler. A summary of the report published last month did not mention the sky marshals but a government spokeswoman confirmed it was being considered.

"The idea of sky marshals is one of the recommendations of the Wheeler report. Whilst it is an option, no decision has been taken on it yet," she said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Airlines could be asked to contribute to the cost of the sky marshals, The Sunday Times newspaper reported.

A spokeswoman for British Airways said the airline was already "working closely" with the government on the proposal.

"If armed police officers were to be introduced on U.K. aircraft by the government, we would need complete confidence that it would not compromise the overall safety of the aircraft," the spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity.

Source: Agencies

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