New security plan for visitors to New York's Statue of Liberty delayed

New York, Feb 17(ANI): Changes in screening procedures for New York's 'Statue of Liberty' visitors have been put off after police objected, officials have said.

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar hoped to announce the new procedures on Thursday, but officials have told him that they are not ready for the changes after hearing complaints from the U.S. Park Police officers who guard the statue.

The plan would move the visitor-screening operations onto Ellis Island, one of several properties that make up the National Parks of New York Harbor.

Currently, visitors bound for the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island are screened at ferry stops at Battery Park in Lower Manhattan and at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

According to the New York Times, some park police officers have raised concerns about letting people who have not passed through metal detectors board ferries to the statue.

Since September 11, 2001, all visitors to the statue and Ellis Island have had to clear airport-style security screening before boarding the boats. (ANI)