J1381 : 'Control Zone Ends' sign near Aldergrove

taken 8 years ago, near to Killead, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland

'Control Zone Ends' sign near Aldergrove
'Control Zone Ends' sign near Aldergrove
A 'Control Zone Ends' on British Road near Belfast International Airport - see also J1381 : 'Control Zone' sign near Aldergrove.

Now a rarity in Northern Ireland, these signs were once seen in every town centre and outside police stations, airports and other strategic buildings from the early 1970s until the mid 1990s. A Control Zone was an anti-terrorism measure designed to deter car bombs - a potent weapon during the 'Troubles' used extensively by the IRA and other terrorist groups. Upon entering the 'zone', a driver of a vehicle was only permitted to park in designated car parks and usually had to submit to a search of the vehicle before parking (usually just a cursory glance in the boot). It was illegal to leave a vehicle in a Control Zone unattended (however you could park inside the zone as long as at least one passenger remained inside). To leave the vehicle unattended was illegal and stupid as it was liable to be treated as a security risk: the authorities could evacuate the area and call in the bomb squad who would carry out a controlled explosion on the vehicle. Control Zone signs were normally black and yellow (indicating restrictions applied 24 hours a day) or black and pink (restrictions during working hours, Monday - Saturday only). This sign indicated that the zone stopped beyond this point.

I'm not entirely sure whether the legislation relating to Control Zones has been entirely repealed - although no longer seen in town centres, signs still exist outside MOD establishments and cars left unattended in these areas continue to be treated as potential threats. See also J3474 : 'Control Zone' sign, Belfast.
Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Rossographer and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
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J1381, 8 images   (more nearby search)
Photographer
Date Taken
Monday, 15 February, 2016   (more nearby)
Submitted
Tuesday, 16 February, 2016
Geographical Context
Historic sites and artefacts  Village, Rural settlement  Roads, Road transport  Flat landscapes 
Primary Subject of Photo
Railway 
Subject Location
Irish: geotagged! J 138 810 [100m precision]
WGS84: 54:39.8981N 6:14.1514W
Camera Location
Irish: geotagged! J 138 810
View Direction
WEST (about 270 degrees)
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Other Tags
Belfast International Airport  Road  Road Sign  Warning Sign  Sign  Control Zone 

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Image classification(about): Geograph
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