It seems that the BAA has installed an x-ray security scanner that sees through people”s clothes in Heathrow”s Terminal 4 ”on an experimental basis”. The device produces a 'naked' image of passengers by bouncing x-rays off their skin. This means that security staff can instantly spot any hidden weapons or explosives ” but the graphic black and white images raise privacy concerns. Passengers are picked randomly, but if you refuse it”s down to a hand search, or as most people would say ”a quick grovel”.
It”s not all one-way mind you. One employee involved in the tests was most put out. ”I was quite shocked by what I saw," he was quoted as saying, "I felt a bit embarrassed looking at the image." Or as a famous departed Luton Town supporter used to expound. ”Not a pretty sight!”
The new system has fallen foul of civil liberties groups and in the US, officials are refusing to deploy the device until it can be further refined to protect passengers' modesty.