Manchester Airport bans minors from being scanned with new x-ray

Manchester Airport officials have announced that they will ban ‘nude’ body X-rays for children underage at their terminal 2 security checks. Currently the airport has been utilizing new technology which X-ray’s passengers bodies through their clothes.

The technology consists of an X-ray booth which passengers stand in while it uses electromagnetic rays to check for hidden paraphernalia such as weapons or explosives. The technology was implemented last week at the Manchester airport. While passengers enter the booth, the technology scans their bodies which can be seen nude through their clothing. The idea is to reveal anything hidden on the person, but the passenger’s privates are also exposed.

The issue currently with the new technology is that under the UK’s 1978 Protection of Children Act, it is a criminal offense to photograph children in the nude. Therefore, the airport has banned the use of the X-ray on children, so as not to subject the staff to criminal investigation.

Airport security officials have said they originally intended for children to be scanned despite knowing the law. The officials said that they had planned to scan children only if first they received parental consent. However, even that became a legal issue as parents can also be subject to criminal investigation by allowing their children to be photographed nude.

In light of the law, all staff at the airport, have now been instructed to avoid scanning minor children with the new X-rays. The airport officials’ lawyers have advised to avoid scanning minors as it could become a legal issue later on. Spokesmen for the airport security have said they do not wish to open up the flood gates for staff to be subject to legal action.