Security Professor Says Van Hire Companies Should Start “Profiling” Customers

18 August 2017, 18:52 | Updated: 22 August 2017, 09:52

A security professor laid out a rather controversial proposal in a bid to ward off future terror attacks during a conversation on LBC.

Professor Anthony Glees of the University of Buckingham wants people “profiled” before they are allowed to rent vans and vehicles.

It comes after it emerged the van used to mow down crowds in Barcelona yesterday afternoon had been rented.

Hired vehicles have also been used in other recent attacks, including Westminster Bridge and the London Bridge attacks.

Explaining how his controversial proposal would work to Iain Dale, Professor Glees said: “You would require people to show, and not just people, profile people.

“You have a young, North African man turning up saying he wants to hire a truck - he would need to provide very clear evidence of the purpose [he] wants to hire it out.”

The suggestion left Iain back taken back, as he retorted: “Seriously, are you suggesting the likes of Hertz and Avis should do racial profiling?”

“I don’t think race comes into it,” the professor replied. “It’s not colour of skin, it’s country of origin.”

Watch the remarkable interview above.