Manchester body scanners – holiday advice

Travel advice: Passengers travelling through Manchester airport face compulsory body scans as part of the tightening of security after Manchester Airport installed Body scanners.

Under-18s were previously excluded in the body scanner trial at Manchester, but new government rules mean this exemption no longer applies.

The scanners, which see through clothes to produce an image of the body, have caused unease among human rights campaigners who fear an invasion of passengers’ privacy as well as the disproportionate scrutiny of Muslim travelers by authorities.

Passengers using Manchester’s Terminal 2 will have to have their body scanned if they are selected by security staff. If they refuse, they will not be allowed to fly.

Manchester airport, which began trialling a Rapiscan Secure 1000 scanner in Terminal 2 in October 2009, is one of two UK airports, alongside Heathrow, that have been directed by the government to introduce the technology this month.

Heathrow is also expected to introduce body scanners this week.

The government has ordered the introduction of scanners following the failed attempt to blow up a Northwest/Delta aircraft on route to Detroit on Christmas Day.

Manchester plans to add scanners in Terminals 1 and 3 by the end of February.

Sarah Barrett, Manchester airport’s head of customer experience, said: “We understand compulsory body scanning is a big change for customers who are selected under the new rules.

“We know privacy concerns have been on our customers’ minds which is why we have put strict procedures to reassure them that their privacy will be protected.”