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Body scanners start at Manchester and Heathrow

2nd February 2010 The Department for Transport (DfT) has ordered both Heathrow and Manchester airports to introduce body scanners from 01st Feb.

The new rules will make it mandatory for passengers selected for a scan to participate. Under-18s can now also be tested for the first time.

Manchester Airport have released the following statement:

"Following new Government security rules, passengers travelling through Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2 and may be body scanned as part of the airport’s normal security procedures from noon on 1st February 2010.

Manchester Airport, which has been trialling a Rapiscan Secure 1000 scanner in Terminal 2 since October 2009, is one of two airports that have been directed by the Government to introduce the technology today. Additional scanners are also planned for Terminals 1 and 3 by the end of February.

Since the incident on an airliner bound for Detroit on Christmas Day, the UK Government has been working closely with airport authorities to develop additional security measures including introducing body scanners at larger airports.

The new security rules on body scanners, which are being introduced in addition to the current security procedures, make it mandatory for any passengers who are selected for a scan to participate. These include:

Passengers who have requested a private search prior to or after passing through the walk-through metal detection equipment.

Passengers who have been referred for a private search following an unresolved metal detection alarm or if the security officer believes that further investigation is required following completion of the hand search process.

If explosive trace detection equipment causes an alarm to sound, or if vapour detection equipment has caused an alarm.

Any passenger can also be selected at random without regard to personal characteristics for a scan.

Under the new rules, any refusal to be body scanned will result in passengers not being allowed to travel.

Previously, under 18’s were not allowed to participate in the body scanner trial at Manchester Airport. However, the Government has confirmed as part of the new rules that this exemption no longer applies.

Manchester Airport is providing passengers travelling through Terminal 2 with detailed information about the introduction of body scanners. The same information is also available on our website – www.manchesterairport.co.uk - alongside video footage illustrating the process."

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