What happens when going through a body scanner?
Security body scanners are widely used across UK airports to screen passengers.
Once the body scanner has been prepared, you will be asked to make your way through to stand on the footprints located on the floor in the centre of the body scanner. Our security operatives will then ask you to raise your arms away from your body and you may be asked to complete a full turn on the spot, bringing yourself to face the security operative again.
How does the scanner work?
The body scanner will conduct a scan of your body and highlight any dense areas to our security operatives by placing a yellow box on a generic figure. If a yellow box appears one of our security operatives will conduct a targeted hand search to identify the reason the body scanner has alarmed. If there are no yellow boxes, you will be clear to move through to departures without the need to be searched by hand.
What if I have a medical device, prosthesis or implant?
Please be aware that medical devices, prosthesis or implants can cause the body scanner to alarm. This will require you to be screened by hand. It can be helpful to notify the security team if you have a medical device, prosthesis or implant prior to entering the body scanner so that an alternative screening method can be used, as deemed appropriate.
Our team are trained to deal with any requests sensitively and you can request a private search, where a body search will be carried out by hand and with a hand-held metal detector. For this private search, you may select the gender of the security team member which you feel most comfortable with to perform the search.
As part of the private search, you may be asked to remove or loosen clothing to enable the security team to screen the item. We appreciate that this process can be uncomfortable, and we appreciate your assistance to help the screening procedure to take place.
What if select to opt out of being screened using the body scanner?
If you select to opt out of being screened using the body scanner, you would be required to undergo an alternative screening method.
How does the body scanner process the screened image?
Our body scanner uses Automatic Threat Recognition software which ensures no images of the passenger’s body are created or stored to protect their privacy. The body scanner electronically processes the data and displays any areas that require to be searched on the same generic figure for every passenger. Randomly selected passengers and staff going through security will be processed by the body scanner.
For more information on the use of security scanners in the UK, and the safeguards in place please visit www.Gov.uk.