Body scanners 'may be unlawful' in UK

THE use of body scanners at UK airports may be unlawful, the Equality and Human Rights Commission warned.

Scanners already in place at Heathrow and Manchester Airports may be breaking discrimination law as well as breaching passengers' rights to privacy, the commission said.

It has now expressed its concerns in a letter to Transport Secretary Lord Adonis. In the letter, the commission said it recognised the threat posed by terrorist activities but that it had concerns "about the apparent absence of safeguards to ensure the body scanners are operated in a lawful, fair and non-discriminatory manner".

It added that it also had "serious doubts that the decision to roll this (body scanning] out in all UK airports complies with the law".

Commission chairman Trevor Phillips said: "National security policies are intended to protect our lives and our freedoms, but it would be the ultimate defeat if that protection destroyed our other liberties."

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "The safety of the travelling public is our highest priority. However, we are also committed to ensuring that all security measures are used in a way which is legal, proportionate and non-discriminatory."