Security checkpoint

Checkpoint near Abu Dis, the West Bank.

A search conducted by the British at the entrance to Tel-Aviv in 1940s.

Civilian checkpoints or Security checkpoints are distinguishable from border or frontier checkpoints in that they are erected and enforced within contiguous areas under military or paramilitary control. Civilian checkpoints have been employed within conflict-ridden areas all over the world to monitor and control the movement of people and materials in order to prevent violence.

Contemporary examples of checkpoints

Though practices and enforcement vary, checkpoints have been used in:

• The former Yugoslavia during the Yugoslav Wars.
• Northern Ireland by the Official IRA, Provisional IRA, and Real IRA as well as by the British Army, Royal Ulster Constabulary, Police Service of Northern Ireland and also by the Ulster Defense Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force.
• Colombia, by military and paramilitary forces.
• Palestinian territories, by the Israeli Defence Force.
• Mexico, by military and police forces.
• Checkpoints were widely used in the past in former communist countries like Russia and Poland. It is still common today to see police checkpoints at the entry to towns especially away from big cities.
• Since the terrorist bombings in Pakistan, they are widely seen across all over Pakistan specially on entrance and exit points of big cities.

Advantages

Checkpoints provide many advantages, including the ability to control how people enter so that security personnel (be it governmental or civilian) can screen entrants to identify known troublemakers (be they criminals, terrorists, or simple rabble-rousers) and locate contraband items.

Effects of checkpoints

Checkpoints typically lead to hardship for the affected civilians, though these effects range from inconvenience to mortal danger. Bir Zeit University, for example, has conducted several studies highlighting the effects of checkpoints in the Palestinian territories^[1][2][3]

In Colombia, the paramilitary forces of the AUC have, according to Amnesty International, imposed limits on the food entering villages, with over 30 people being killed at the checkpoint in one instance.^[4]

See also

• Airport security
• Border checkpoint
• Flying checkpoint
• Freedom of movement
• Israeli checkpoints

References

1. ^ Birzeit.edu
2. ^ BlueYonder.co.uk
3. ^ Birzeit.edu
4. ^ Amnesty.org

This military-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Military stubs Checkpoints Military tactics Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР Civilian casualty ratio Civilian noninstitutional population Look at other dictionaries: Checkpoint — may refer to: Contents 1 Places 2 Biology 3 Arts and Entertainment …   Wikipedia Security theater — consists of security countermeasures intended to provide the feeling of improved security while doing little or nothing to actually improve security. [cite book last = Schneier first = Bruce authorlink = Bruce Schneier title = Beyond Fear:… …   Wikipedia checkpoint — ► NOUN ▪ a barrier where security checks are carried out on travellers …   English terms dictionary Checkpoint Charlie — A view of Checkpoint Charlie in 1963, from the American sector Checkpoint Charlie (or Checkpoint C ) was the name given by the Western Allies to the best known Berlin Wall crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War.… …   Wikipedia Checkpoint Charlie Museum — Haus am Checkpoint Charlie …   Wikipedia checkpoint — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ border ▪ army, military, police, security ▪ vehicle VERB + CHECKPOINT ▪ …   Collocations dictionary CheckPoint — Check Point Logo de Check Point Création 1993 Forme juridique Privé …   Wikipédia en Français security — noun 1 feeling safe/being free from worry ADJECTIVE ▪ greater ▪ emotional, psychological ▪ economic, financial ▪ job ▪ …   Collocations dictionary Security Detachment Iraq (Australia) — SECDET Members of SECDET X prepare for a mission in March 2007 Active 2003–2011 Country …   Wikipedia Security vs. Civil Liberties — ▪ 2003 By Stephen J. Phillips       Technology was at the forefront of international efforts to fight terrorism and bolster security in 2002 in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001. The rush to deploy new technologies… …   Universalium 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”