Backscatter x-ray scanners.. Nude-o-scopes… You either don’t understand what the fuss is about, or you avoid them at every turn possible.
The body scanners that are being used currently at Manchester Airport are due to be scrapped from October.
It seems that these devices were on a 3 year trial and the European Commission has failed to make a decision about them – forcing the airport to withdraw them from use.
The scanners will be replaced with what Manchester airport calls “privacy-friendly” scanners at a cost of £1.3m and an extra 55 security staff.
Allegedly, all parties were happy with the Backscatter X-Ray Scanners, and the airport is frustrated that the European Commission hasn’t approved post trial usage.
Andrew Harrison, Chief Operating Officer at Manchester Airport Group, says
“Everyone involved is happy with them – they are safe, security like them and in a recent survey 100% of passengers were satisfied with them and prefer them to frisking.
“It’s frustrating that Brussels has allowed this successful trial to end by failing to make a decision on them at an additional cost of £1.3m to Manchester Airport.”
“Our security surveys and those run by the Department for Transport show passengers regularly rate their experience at Manchester as one of the best security processes in the UK if not Europe.
“There’s no doubt that body scanners play a big part in these results.”
During the trial, a total of 23 people refused to be scanned – and by the nature of the trial were refused permission to board (as compliance with the scan when requested is a requirement to pass security)
We’re all familiar with how nude-0-scopes work, and our own viewpoints about them (my viewpoints are my own, but I’m sure I speak for some of us who think X-Rays should be in the hands of trained medical professionals and not in the hands of some who may have a dis-interest in their job).
New trials of Backscatter X-Ray scanners were halted in November 2011 by the The EC while concerns they could emit harmful levels of radiation were investigated- they were deemed safe in a report by the EC in March. However, Manchester Airport continued to use them as it was an existing trial.
The new “privacy-friendly” scanners will not need a member of security in a remote room to check the images, but instead produce an automatic cartoon-style images of passengers – allegedly providing more privacy. This has an impact on staffing, requiring more staff to frisk people when the images on the scanners show potential “threat areas” suggesting there might be concealed items – operating on a “radio-wave technology”.
To be honest, I’ve seen the proliferation of Nude-o-scopes at certain airports in the USA where for those who are screening it’s the default method of screening unless you choose to opt out (Yes, I am looking at you Chicago O’Hare T1, Washington DC Concourse C and Los Angeles T7). Alas, opting out is not a privlage that exists if you want to travel in the UK on a plane.
And yes, I’m happier being frisked by a member of the TSA than I am being blasted by X-rays from them. Work that out if you can.
Although with the way some of those screener go – getting to 2nd base means I’d like chocolates and a dinner date at least…..