Leader: Weak and Haphazard Holyrood Security Open to Attack

Summary

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SECURITY is still the number one issue in the west, and vigilance the only watchword. This week, timed to try to influence the Australian elections, a group close to al-Qaeda bombed the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. While, in the three years since the planes were flown into the Twin Towers, America and Britain have avoided further terrorist attacks, few can doubt that the danger remains as alive as ever.

For that reason it is remarkable, to say the least, that security arrangements at the newly-opened Scottish Parliament building are not just deficient but are unquestionably lax. In the last few days, a number of Scotsman journalists have put security at Holyrood to the test and found gaping holes. Staff at the parliament also report that it has been found a simple matter to enter the unguarded offices of MSPs. This can hardly give elected members peace of mind if files relating to constituents, party business or personal affairs are potentially vulnerable to unauthorised access.

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Extract

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Leader: Weak and Haphazard Holyrood Security Open to Attack

The checking of visitors' identities and passes has also been haphazard, making it possible to roam the building unsupervised. This is particularly worrying given the labyrinthine nature of the new complex, which makes internal security all...

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