Rights commission warns body scanners could be illegal

Equality watchdog warns that the use of body scanners in air terminals could violate anti-discrimination and privacy laws. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission told that ministers should act instantly to ensure that the utilization of the scanning devices at UK airports is lawful.

The commission’s chief, Trevor Phillips, informed the transport secretary, Lord Adonis, of the concerns currently voiced by rights groups about the apparent lack of assurance that the scanners are operated fairly and without discrimination. The warning follows a legal recommendation from two leading human rights lawyers at Matrix Chambers, Helen Mountfield and Professor Conor Gearty.

The hi-tech body scanners were installed this month at Manchester and Heathrow air terminals in response to the failed Christmas Day plane bombing in the US. Without public consultation, the transport department has also temporarily introduced a set of airport security guidelines. The regulation makes clear that passengers who decline to undergo a body scan will be forbidden from flying.

In a letter to the transport secretary, Phillips stated that he recognized the necessity for the UK government to take urgent measures to guard the travelling public from any threat of terrorism. The commission chief said that security checks like body scanning are carried out for good reasons.

However, Phillips has grave doubts that the decision to install the scanning device in UK airports complies with the human rights law. He said that without proper care, such policies can be used to discriminate vulnerable groups.

A spokesman from the Department of Transport meanwhile said that they are committed to make sure that all security measures were implemented in a legal and non-discriminatory way.