News: Airports introduce tough new body scan rules
Flights > News > # 2400 (01/02/2010)
Passengers selected to go through full body scanners at London Heathrow and Manchester airports will not be allowed to fly if they refuse to take part in the search.
The new security rules have been introduced following the attempt by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to blow up a plane as it was about to land in Detroit on Christmas Day, but there have been concerns the scanners breach passengers' privacy rights.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said in the immediate future only a small proportion of airline passengers would be selected for scanning.
In a written statement to the House of Commons, he said: "If a passenger is selected for scanning, and declines, they will not be permitted to fly."
The scanners were introduced at the two airports on Monday and will be installed at Birmingham International later in the month.
The machine has been used at Manchester Airport's Terminal 2 since October, with additional scanners planned for Terminals 1 and 3 by the end of February.
The Department of Transport has published an interim code of practice covering privacy, health and safety, data protection and equality issues.
"The code will require airports to undertake scanning sensitively, having regard to the rights of passengers," Lord Adonis said.
Manchester Airport said it had put strict procedures in place to protect the privacy of passengers.
A Manchester Airport spokesman said: "It will enhance security for everyone, which can only be a good thing, without compromising people's privacy.
"The image generated by the body scanner cannot be stored or captured nor can security officers viewing the images recognise people."
The equipment does not allow security staff to see passengers naked, she added.
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