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Airport body scanners on way - PM | Airport body scanners on way - PM |
(20 minutes later) | |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has given the go-ahead for full body scanners to be introduced at Britain's airports. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has given the go-ahead for full body scanners to be introduced at Britain's airports. |
Airports operator BAA said it would now install the machines "as soon as is practical" at Heathrow. | Airports operator BAA said it would now install the machines "as soon as is practical" at Heathrow. |
Experts have questioned the scanners' effectiveness at detecting the type of bomb allegedly used on Christmas Day in an attempted plane attack over Detroit. | Experts have questioned the scanners' effectiveness at detecting the type of bomb allegedly used on Christmas Day in an attempted plane attack over Detroit. |
But Mr Brown said it was essential to "go further" than the current technology allowed. | But Mr Brown said it was essential to "go further" than the current technology allowed. |
Hand luggage checks | Hand luggage checks |
Speaking on BBC One's Andrew Marr show, the prime minister said the government would do everything in its power to tighten security and prevent a repeat of the US attack. | Speaking on BBC One's Andrew Marr show, the prime minister said the government would do everything in its power to tighten security and prevent a repeat of the US attack. |
Brown on Yemen threat and airport security | |
Travellers would see the "gradual" introduction of the use of full body scanners and hand luggage checks for traces of explosives, he said. | Travellers would see the "gradual" introduction of the use of full body scanners and hand luggage checks for traces of explosives, he said. |
He added that transit passengers as well as transfer passengers would undergo these checks. | He added that transit passengers as well as transfer passengers would undergo these checks. |
Currently, not everyone has to pass through full body scanners already introduced at some major airports overseas - particularly if they are in transit from another country - due to concerns about cost and time delays. | Currently, not everyone has to pass through full body scanners already introduced at some major airports overseas - particularly if they are in transit from another country - due to concerns about cost and time delays. |
A spokesman for BAA said: "It is our view that a combination of technology, intelligences and passenger profiling will help build a more robust defence against the unpredictable and changing nature of the terrorist threat to aviation." | A spokesman for BAA said: "It is our view that a combination of technology, intelligences and passenger profiling will help build a more robust defence against the unpredictable and changing nature of the terrorist threat to aviation." |
He said nothing had been decided yet on exactly which passengers would undergo the full body scans. | |
And he declined to give specific details about timing or comment on extending the use of scanners to other airports, costs or the potential for passenger delays. | |
On Friday, Gordon Brown announced he had ordered a review of existing security measures, and advisers are expected to report within days. | On Friday, Gordon Brown announced he had ordered a review of existing security measures, and advisers are expected to report within days. |
Full body scanners, which produce "naked" images of passengers, remove the need for "pat down" searches. | Full body scanners, which produce "naked" images of passengers, remove the need for "pat down" searches. |
However they have raised concerns about privacy, with campaigners saying they are tantamount to a "strip search". | However they have raised concerns about privacy, with campaigners saying they are tantamount to a "strip search". |
The machines are currently being trialled at Manchester airport following tests at Heathrow airport from 2004 to 2008. | The machines are currently being trialled at Manchester airport following tests at Heathrow airport from 2004 to 2008. |
They are also being rolled out across the US, with 40 machines used at 19 airports. | They are also being rolled out across the US, with 40 machines used at 19 airports. |