Baggage handlers at Heathrow are routinely flouting security procedures, an Evening Standard investigation has revealed. Despite rules that bags must be x-rayed and at least 10 per cent examined by handlers, it was discovered this was not happening and some bags were not being searched at all.

Evening Standard found it was worryingly easy to obtain a job in this security-sensitive area, with no criminal record checks, address or identity inquiries made. It took only 24 hours for a reporter to get work with the Excess Baggage Company, which has the exclusive contract to handle left luggage at Heathrow, Gatwick and several major railway stations. Once there, he uncovered alarming breaches of security.

The Environment Department recommends that all bags are screened by x-ray and that a proportion are then also subject to hand searches before they can be left at airports. The British Airports Authority (BAA) runs anti-terrorism training courses, which all Excess Baggage staff must attend, in which it teaches that 10-20 per cent of bags should be manually searched.

The BAA has ordered an investigation, saying it was “very concerned” at the findings.