Body Scanners: Manchester Airport's Security Protocol Explained

Manchester Airport has had body scanners installed since 2010. The airport has trialled various types of body scanners, including backscatter X-ray scanners, whole-body imaging scanners, and advanced imaging technology units. While the airport's body scanners were scrapped in 2012 due to concerns about privacy and harmful radiation levels, they were replaced by privacy-friendly scanners. In 2024, Manchester Airport introduced CT scanners, which provide 3D imaging and enhance security by improving threat detection capabilities.

Manchester Airport's body scanners were scrapped in 2012

Manchester Airport first introduced body scanners in 2009 following a year-long trial. The airport said that most people preferred the scanners to a full-body pat-down, and that the scanners reduced queuing times.

However, the body scanners were not without controversy. In 2010, two Muslim women refused to go through the scanners on religious grounds. There were also concerns that the scanners breached privacy laws and produced naked images of passengers. Despite these concerns, the scanners were deemed safe by the European Commission in 2012.

Nevertheless, in September 2012, Manchester Airport announced that it would be scrapping the body scanners. This decision was made because the European Commission failed to approve the scanners after a three-year trial, citing concerns about privacy and radiation emissions. The airport said it was "frustrated" by the decision, as all parties involved were happy with the scanners. The body scanners were replaced by "privacy-friendly" scanners that produce cartoon-style images of passengers, providing more privacy.

The scanners were replaced with 'privacy-friendly' versions

Manchester Airport has had body scanners in all three of its terminals since 2010. The scanners were introduced following a year-long trial that began in October 2009. The trial was initiated in response to regular passenger complaints about being patted down during security checks.

The body scanners were not without their controversies, however. In 2010, two Muslim women refused to go through the scanners on religious grounds. The Equality and Human Rights Commission also expressed concerns that the scanners breached privacy laws. In 2011, it was reported that the scanners produced a gender-neutral image of a human figure, resembling a crime scene outline. Passengers could see the monitor as they passed through, and the images were not stored. Despite this, some passengers still felt that their privacy was violated.

In 2012, the passenger body scanners at Manchester Airport were scrapped. The European Commission (EC) had stopped trials of the scanners while concerns about potentially harmful radiation emissions were investigated. The airport spent £1.3 million to replace the old scanners with "privacy-friendly" versions, which did not require a member of security to check the images in a remote room. Instead, the new scanners produce automatic cartoon-style images of passengers, providing more privacy. However, additional staff are needed to frisk passengers when the images show potential "threat areas" that suggest the presence of concealed items.

The new scanners produce cartoon-style images

Manchester Airport has had body scanners in all three of its terminals since 2010. However, the airport decided to scrap them in 2012 due to concerns about privacy and harmful radiation levels. The body scanners were replaced with "privacy-friendly" scanners, which produce cartoon-style images of passengers, providing more anonymity.

The new scanners produce a gender-neutral image of a human figure, more closely resembling a crime scene outline than a male or female form. The monitor displaying the image is visible to the passengers as they pass through, and the images are not stored anywhere. If no anomalies are detected, no image of the person is produced at all — a green ‘OK' appears on the TSA agent's view screen instead, and the passenger is allowed to move towards the gate.

The new scanners look like large tubes, bearing a slight resemblance to a transporter pad in Star Trek. The scanner is open at both ends, and upon entering, the passenger stands in the middle on spaces clearly marked for their feet. The device quickly moves around them, taking between two and three seconds to complete the scan.

The introduction of the new scanners has been well-received by passengers, who now prefer them to full-body pat-downs. The scanners are also more efficient, with each scan taking only 25 seconds, compared to two minutes for a pat-down search.

Passengers can opt for a pat-down search instead

Manchester Airport introduced body scanners in all three of its terminals in 2010. However, these were replaced with "privacy-friendly" scanners in 2012, which produce cartoon-style images of passengers, providing more privacy.

Passengers who are uncomfortable with the body scanners can opt for a full-body pat-down instead. This is a manual screening by a TSA agent of the same gender as the passenger. While some consider this option an invasion of privacy, it is a viable alternative for those with physical or mental conditions, or those who are concerned about their condition. For instance, passengers with pacemakers or implanted ICD devices may want to opt for a pat-down instead of a body scanner, despite there being no evidence that these devices are affected by body scanners.

Passengers can also request that the pat-down takes place in a private room, rather than a public area. This option is also available to those who have already gone through the body scanner but are then instructed to step aside for additional screening.

It is important to note that opting for a pat-down may take more time than passing through a body scanner. Additionally, passengers who opt out of the body scanner may not be allowed to board their flight, as was the case at Manchester Airport when body scanners were first introduced.

Manchester Airport now uses CT scanners

Manchester Airport has recently upgraded its security imaging scanners to CT scanners. This new technology has been introduced in all three terminals, following a year-long trial that began in October 2009. The CT scanners provide a 3D imaging system that can be viewed and rotated 360 degrees, offering a thorough visual image analysis.

The new scanners are designed to improve the security screening experience for passengers and address previous concerns about privacy and health risks. Unlike the previous body scanners, the CT scanners do not produce detailed images of passengers' bodies, which some travellers found intrusive. Instead, they create a gender-neutral image of a human figure, more like a crime scene outline, and passengers can see the image on a monitor as they pass through.

The CT scanners also offer a quicker and more efficient way to screen passengers. It takes approximately 25 seconds to walk through a body scanner, whereas a pat-down search can take up to two minutes. The new scanners can also detect potential security threats more accurately, including explosives and liquids, without the need for a physical search.

While the CT scanners are now operational, some passengers have expressed concerns about the impact on photographic film. Manchester Airport has stated that they are happy to hand-check film, and recommend that passengers carry film separately in clear plastic bags for manual inspection.

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