THE use of body scanners at UK airports may be unlawful, the Equality and Human Rights Commission warned today.
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 it, the commission said it recognised the threat posed by terrorists but that it had concerns “about the apparent absence of safeguards to ensure the 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”.
The commission’s chairman, Trevor Phillips, said today: “The right to life is the ultimate human right and we support the UK Government’s review of security policies.
“But, without proper care, such policies can end up being applied in ways which do discriminate against vulnerable groups or harm good community relations.
“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.”
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne MP said: “The government seems intent on pressing ahead with the use of body scanners without addressing any of the privacy concerns raised by the Liberal Democrats and others.
“The commission is right to suggest that security measures cannot simply be introduced without due respect for the rule of law.”
Matthew Knowles, spokesman for aerospace, defence and security trade organisation ADS, said: “It is absolutely right to ensure that the use of security equipment is in full accordance with the law.
“However, the reason for the need for such equipment should not be forgotten. Terrorism poses a real threat.”
He went on: “The country urgently needs a wide-ranging debate to determine what the travelling public’s views are about aviation security, what their concerns are and what they regard as the necessary measures with which to keep them safe.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: “The safety of the travelling public is our highest priority and we will not allow this to be compromised. However, we are also committed to ensuring that all security measures are used in a way which is legal, proportionate and non-discriminatory.
“Given the current security threat level, we believe it was essential to start introducing scanners immediately.”