Fireman Sam creator detained at airport for 'racist' scarf comment at security gate

A retired fireman, and creator of the popular children's character, Fireman Sam, was detained at an airport for questioning why a veiled woman was not checked by security. As David Jones arrived at the security gates at Gatwick airport and placed his belongings, including a scarf, into a tray to pass through the X-ray scanner he spotted a Muslim woman in hijab pass through the area without showing her face. In a light-hearted aside to a security official who had been assisting him, he said: “If I was wearing this scarf over my face, I wonder what would happen.” The quip proved to be a mistake. After passing through the gates, he was confronted by staff and accused of racism. He was then subjected to a one hour stand-off as officials tried to force him to apologise. Mr Jones, 67, said: “Something like George Orwell’s 1984 now seems to have arrived in Gatwick airport. I feel that my rights as an individual have been violated.



“What I underwent amounts to intimidation and detention. I was humiliated and degraded in full public view. I am a 67-year-old pensioner and have lived my life within the law. I do not have even one point on my driving licence.” He said that when he made his initial remark the security guard had appeared to agree with him, saying: “I know what you mean, but we have our rules, and you aren’t allowed to say that.” As he went through the metal detecting arch, his artificial hip set off the alarm, prompting a full search from a guard. It was after this that he was confronted by another guard who said he was being detained because he had made an offensive remark. “I repeated to her what I had said and told her that I had said nothing racist,” he said. She took my passport and boarding pass and I was then escorted back through the security zone into the outer area.

“We were then joined by a second female security guard who stated that she was Muslim and was deeply distressed by my comment. I again stated that I had not made a racist remark but purely an observation that we were in a maximum security situation being searched thoroughly whilst a woman with her face covered walked through. I made no reference to race or religion. I did not swear or raise my voice.” He continued: “I had now been detained for some time. We were going around in circles. I maintained that I had said nothing offensive and the security guard was continuing to accuse me. This had taken about 15-20 minutes and looked as though it was not going to be resolved. At this point I asked for the attendance of a police officer. After some time he arrived but it was also plainly evident that he was keeping to the politically correct code.



“I told him that if there was a case then he should arrest me. I was told that we now live in a different time and some things are not to be said. They decided again that I would only be allowed to continue on my journey if I were to apologise to the Muslim guard. My reply was that as I had not made a racist remark it would be impossible for me to apologise.” Mr Jones added: “I felt that I made a logical observation. That while everyone was being subjected to an invasive search it was illogical that someone should be let through with their face covered. I am not opposed to having this level of security but it must be equal for all.” Eventually, Mr Jones said, a BA manager suggested that he should agree that what he had said “could” be considered offensive by a Muslim guard. With his flight departure time now fast approaching Mr Jones agreed to the compromise.