Secret bag checks on travellers at British airports

Customs officers are secretly searching luggage at Heathrow before it reaches the arrivals reclaim area.

New rules which apply to all UK airports have quietly allowed checks to be carried out without travellers' permission or knowledge. The extra searches are being made seconds after flights touch down.

Officers are randomly opening bags before fliers get the option of declaring goods that may require paying duty in the "red channel". The inspected luggage is then collected by the unknowing passengers as usual.

But if anyone with illicit goods goes through the green "nothing to declare" channel, customs staff can then approach them - already aware what is in the luggage.

The unannounced change has caused concern among baggage handlers. One said: "It is strange watching cases opened just after they are offloaded without the owners present. We have even approached officers thinking they are acting illegally.

"But it seems it is now OK for them to lie in wait to nab people when they know they are guilty of duty evasion." The searches are possible following amendments to the powers of Customs staff in this year's Budget report.