You cannot be serious! Child's tennis rackets destroyed by airport security for being 'lethal weapons'

  • Father's fury as rackets are banned because of threat to passengers
  • 'They said I could take it out and hit an air stewardess on the head'

By Craig Mackenzie

Published: | Updated:


A furious holidaymaker has condemned airport security staff after his child's tennis rackets were confiscated and destroyed for being potentially 'lethal weapons'.

Richard Chew was flying to the holiday island of Majorca with his nine-year-old stepson Will when they were forced to hand over the rackets.

Mr Chew, a 46-year-old PR, was stopped at Leeds Bradford Airport because of the alleged threat to other passengers as he travelled to see Will's mother, Vicky Locklin, in Spain.

What a racket: Richard Chew was forced to hand over a child's rackets because they were potentially 'lethal weapons'

What a racket: Richard Chew was forced to hand over a child's rackets because they were potentially 'lethal weapons'

Bemused Richard said: 'I appreciate that we live in a security-conscious age but this is ridiculous and I think they should allow the security services to exercise some common sense.

'All I had was two kids' tennis rackets but they said I couldn't take them through.

'When I asked why they said it was because they were potentially lethal weapons. He actually said that I would be able to take it out of the bag and hit a steward or stewardess on the head with them rendering them unconscious.

'I mean it's possible but it takes a bit of a leap of imagination. You don't hear many people sleeping next to a kid's tennis racket just in case of a burglary, it's really silly.

Sunshine island of Majorca: Holidaymaker Richard Chew was stopped by security staff on his way to Spain

Sunshine island of Majorca: Holidaymaker Richard Chew was stopped by security staff on his way to Spain

'He even told me that you can take small scissors on board and knitting needles. You could do more damage with them than a tennis racket.'

Richard added: 'As a parting comment I asked him to make sure the rackets went to a good home, they're not particularly good but could make a child who has just watched Murray win the gold very happy.

'He replied by telling me they would be destroyed just like everything else that they confiscate. Apparently that's what they have to do. It seems really stupid. Conversationally he told me that he had binned a 99 pound bottle of Gucci perfume that he had confiscated earlier.

'It's madness. If this is happening across the country then millions of pounds worth of perfectly good products are being thrown away when they could be given to those less fortunate or sold.

'The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is actually based at the airport. Why not sell off the confiscated items and donate the money to them. I'm sure they would be very grateful.'

A spokeswoman for Leeds Bradford Airport said: 'Government legislation dictates what can and cannot be used as hand luggage.

'All UK airports are mandated to adhere to government legislation, compliance in this matter is frequently audited.'

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