Indian airport police told to cut down on smiling

Indian authorities fear excessive friendliness could lead to attacks amid "lax security".

Airport police in India are being instructed to smile less.

This is over concerns cheerfulness could lead to a perception of lax security and a threat of terror attacks.

The country's Central Industrial Security Force, which is in charge of aviation safety, wants its staff to be "more vigilant than friendly".

They will move from a "broad smile system" to a "sufficient smile system", the Indian Express says.

Officials are said to believe that excessive friendliness puts airports at risk of terrorist attacks.

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The organisation's director general, Rajesh Ranjan even said the 9/11 attacks had taken place because of "an excessive reliance on passenger-friendly features".

This is not the first time Indian police officers have been told to improve their standards or alter their behaviour:

• In July, the Karnataka State Reserve Police told its officers to lose weight or face suspension from service

• And in 2004, police in Madhya Pradesh state were paid to grow moustaches because bosses believed it made them command more respect

By contrast, elsewhere in Asia, Nepalese police hired 600 trainers in 2014 to help officers become more friendly.