Jul 18, 2013, 9:11 am
Last edit by: stifle
As and from 22 November 2013, passengers who are selected for a body scan may decline and receive a "private search alternative".
Body scanners are in place or on their way to the majority of major international airports in the UK. As of the end of 2013, they are deployed in LHR, LGW, BHX, MAN, EDI, GLA, STN, LCY, and BFS and were deployed in late 2014/early 2015 to ABZ, BHD, BRS, CWL, EMA, LBA, LPL, LTN, NCL and PIK. Until 21 November 2013, passengers declining a scan once selected were denied passage through the checkpoint and offloaded from their flight. As of 22 November 2013, passengers selected may decline a scan and will be hand-searched in a private room. This search may require the loosening or removal of some items of clothing and the passenger may have a witness present. The passenger's carry-on items will also be thoroughly searched and may be subject to explosive threat detection swabbing. Details of some FlyerTalkers' opt-out experiences can be read in post #606 and #661.
All body scanners in the UK are of the millimetre wave type. Backscatter machines were previously used but withdrawn in 2012. There are 4 models in use: the L3 ProVision, the L3 ProVision 2, the Smiths eqo (which has a passing resemblance to the single-pose Rapiscan backscatter), and the Rohde & Schwarz Quick Personnel Scanner. All use Automatic Threat Recognition software so the result of the scan is immediately visible in the form of a so-called "Gumby" figure on the screen. The passenger and the security clerk will see the figure and any anomalies are outlined with boxes; these areas are then patted down.
Scanners are not used as primary and all passengers pass through walk-through metal detectors in the first instance. In most locations, the scanner is associated with one WTMD and if you trigger this WTMD you will be directed to the scanner. Note that WTMDs in the UK are set to randomly beep with a certain probability (perhaps 15%) even if you have no metal. In some locations, however, the scanner is set back from the checkpoint and security clerks select people based on undisclosed criteria, sometimes after they have already packed up their stuff and put it back in their bags/pockets/etc.
A passenger may, if so inclined, request to be screened by the scanner rather than passing through the WTMD, which one supposes may be preferable to certain passengers possessed of metal implants which they cannot divest.
Historically the chance of being selected for scanning on any given trip was quite low, as there are generally multiple lanes at any given checkpoint but only one or two scanners. This is now changing at non-London airports where the lanes with scanners are used most and non-scanner lanes only opened to handle peak demand, and at London airports where more scanners are being installed. It was also usually the case through 2014 that fast track lanes for premium and status passengers were WTMD only; this is sadly history now.
Unless otherwise stated, the scanners below are located behind WTMDs and passengers beeping the WTMDs are scanned.
Scanner locations per airport:
LHR T1: Closed
LHR T2: Scanners on all lanes behind WTMD, except the very furthest lane from the entrance.
LHR T3: Recent information required.
LHR T4: Recent information required.
LHR T5: Scanners on most lanes behind WTMD. Due to limited space the lanes at either end of north checkpoint and at either end of south checkpoint (but not fast track) are scanner-free.
LGW TN: WTMD + scanner in every lane.
LGW TS: WTMD + scanner in every lane. Sometimes scanners switched to primary.
MAN: Scanners: one per checkpoint, used as secondary screening in lieu of pat-down if WTMD triggered.
EDI: Update needed from new checkpoint
STN: Scanners behind the WTMDs for lanes 7/8 and 15/16.
LCY: Scanners in both checkpoints, used as secondary. Two safe lanes in the old checkpoint (the one with automatic boarding pass scan gates) so use that and try to SDOO.
GLA: Between lanes 3 and 4. Note, fast track normally uses lanes 1 and 2 but you can get unlucky. (Updated 25 January 2014)
BFS: Scanner used as secondary if you trip the WTMD.
ABZ: Information needed
SOU: Scanner behind the only WTMD
BHD, LPL, BRS, EMA, NCL, LBA, LTN, CWL: Information also needed
See also: https://www.gov.uk/government/speech...ty-scanners--2
UK body scanners - opt outs permitted 22 November 2013
Feb 25, 2011, 3:35 pm
#31
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Do you mean they keep adjusting the sensitivity of the WTMD up/down so statistically 1 out of 10 set it off, or that it randomly goes off for about 1 of every 10 person even if the sensor didn't sense metal?
In the latter case, that's an awful high rate of false positives to slow down the line and get the security lax to finding nothing IMO. In the first case, it should be set at whatever sensitivity is needed to detect a knife-size slab of metal moving through at normal walking speed.
In the latter case, that's an awful high rate of false positives to slow down the line and get the security lax to finding nothing IMO. In the first case, it should be set at whatever sensitivity is needed to detect a knife-size slab of metal moving through at normal walking speed.
Feb 25, 2011, 4:53 pm
#32
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Which airports outside of the US use backscatter besides MAN and ICN? Are there any others? The only one listed on the complete list is ICN. MAN lists the NoS as in use but doesn't specify the type.
Feb 25, 2011, 7:31 pm
#33
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
And that is why I was surprised. I have not actually seen a scanner at MAN at all, so went off the sticky in my past travels through MAN. My last flight from there was a few months ago. I did look up online and there were a few news reports about backscatter at MAN, so I sent the link to this thread earlier today to FriendlySkies to update the sticky.
It is a good reminder however that any updates should be sent to FS via PM as it helps the community to have more complete information. The sticky is only valuable if the information is kept current and FS can only update based on what the members send.
It is a good reminder however that any updates should be sent to FS via PM as it helps the community to have more complete information. The sticky is only valuable if the information is kept current and FS can only update based on what the members send.
Feb 25, 2011, 11:15 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2009
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IIRC, the image that everyone has seen - T4, I think - came from MAN, yes? That's definitely a backscatter image. I also remember MAN having the older type of Rapiscan machine with a single wall. Basically you have to be scanned, turn 180 degrees, and be scanned again.
Needless to say, I will not go through any airport that has backscatter with no opt-out alternative. While no opt-out provision is horrible enough, I don't need to be subjected to additional x-ray radiation.
Needless to say, I will not go through any airport that has backscatter with no opt-out alternative. While no opt-out provision is horrible enough, I don't need to be subjected to additional x-ray radiation.
Feb 25, 2011, 11:19 pm
#35
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Nor will I, with the possible exception of journeys where I can opt-out (and get denied boarding) but be certain that I can complete my journey with a reasonable time and cost (say MAN-LHR on a Sunday when there's a train every 20 minutes with a turn up and go price of Ł69).
Feb 26, 2011, 2:44 am
#36
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In those cases, I would prefer to simply take the rail than eat the cost of a plane ticket. The trickier prospect is when you're on a flight departing internationally and have already cleared passport control. I believe in the UK you can't simply walk back out landside, can you? You would have to clear passport control a second time, and I don't even see an option for this, at least at LHR.
What's even crazier is that LHR doesn't have these machines at the transit checkpoint for T5 at LHR. Wouldn't that be where you'd want them the most given their intended purpose and flights arriving from who knows what airports with less than adequate security?
What's even crazier is that LHR doesn't have these machines at the transit checkpoint for T5 at LHR. Wouldn't that be where you'd want them the most given their intended purpose and flights arriving from who knows what airports with less than adequate security?
Feb 26, 2011, 5:05 am
#37
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Competition takes the price of plane tickets down to near rail tickets for domestic journeys, and I tend to book tickets with zero or close to zero fare; the taxes being refundable.
There is no departure passport control in the UK. The first thing in the passenger-only area of UK airports is the security checkpoint. If you opted-out there having entered from landside, you would presumably be escorted back to the entrance to the checkpoint and told to go away.
As you observed, there is no NOS at the transit checkpoints; I assume someone refusing to complete screening there for whatever reason would be escorted to the UKBA border control and either landed or refused entry and sent back to wherever they started from. This is the case for transit pax at DUB/SNN trying to preclear for the USA; if they are denied entry to the USA they are taken to an Garda Síochána who will either admit them to Ireland or refuse them.
There is no departure passport control in the UK. The first thing in the passenger-only area of UK airports is the security checkpoint. If you opted-out there having entered from landside, you would presumably be escorted back to the entrance to the checkpoint and told to go away.
As you observed, there is no NOS at the transit checkpoints; I assume someone refusing to complete screening there for whatever reason would be escorted to the UKBA border control and either landed or refused entry and sent back to wherever they started from. This is the case for transit pax at DUB/SNN trying to preclear for the USA; if they are denied entry to the USA they are taken to an Garda Síochána who will either admit them to Ireland or refuse them.
Feb 27, 2011, 11:01 am
#38
Join Date: Nov 2010
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I'm only transferring through MAN, so I hope I'll be okay, but I'll report back.
I'm still perplexed on what would happen to someone thrown out of a secure area in an international zone who has not been admitted to the UK. If the result is to immediately put that person back on a plane to deport him, doesn't that 1. bypass the required pre-flight "security" and 2. advance that passenger's goal of getting on a plane without going through the superfluous "security"? The alternative, admitting the passenger to the UK for an indefinite stay without the required visa or even the passenger's permission, seems to pose its own problems.
I'm still perplexed on what would happen to someone thrown out of a secure area in an international zone who has not been admitted to the UK. If the result is to immediately put that person back on a plane to deport him, doesn't that 1. bypass the required pre-flight "security" and 2. advance that passenger's goal of getting on a plane without going through the superfluous "security"? The alternative, admitting the passenger to the UK for an indefinite stay without the required visa or even the passenger's permission, seems to pose its own problems.
Feb 27, 2011, 11:34 am
#39
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A person who has been refused entry will be detained for the purpose of their removal. Immigration detention is equivalent to police detention so the person can be searched without their consent and any contraband etc. removed.
Feb 27, 2011, 1:12 pm
#40
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
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The transporting airline would also be notified that you chose to not undergo screening and you will be denied travel. This process is in place to ensure that people don't simply go "checkpoint shopping" until they find one where they are not a random selectee.
Feb 27, 2011, 1:25 pm
#41
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You don't have to claim a broken arm. Just having an arm in a sling should keep you out of the scanner. A arm sling could be required for many conditions other than a break, conditions that are not visible: rotator cuff injury, a torn tendon, etc., etc., etc., all injuries that keep you from lifting your arm.
Mar 13, 2011, 11:32 am
#42
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Just had a run through MAN T3, managed to self-direct myself to the WTMD line (which is lines 1-3). There was a shedload of people being sent to the magic BKSX line (which sends you through a WTMD and then you are automatically directed, Canadian-style, either to the exit or to the nude-o-scope depending on whatever super secret factors are in vogue at the moment; got to keep them terrorists guessing).
Advice for passengers there is to try to time it so that you hit the top of the queue (where a clerk directs you to either WTMD or BKSX) when the BKSX queue is backed up. Mess around with your hand luggage and let a few people get ahead of you in the queue if it looks like you're going to get sent the wrong way.
Advice for passengers there is to try to time it so that you hit the top of the queue (where a clerk directs you to either WTMD or BKSX) when the BKSX queue is backed up. Mess around with your hand luggage and let a few people get ahead of you in the queue if it looks like you're going to get sent the wrong way.
Mar 14, 2011, 4:25 am
#43
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Oh, and I'll add that the backscatter display screens were on public view. Privacy seems to have gone out the window.
Mar 14, 2011, 7:34 am
#44
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 855
http://www.heathrowairport.com/porta...0357e120a____/
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_184728
And, these people are serious, I found a case back from 2010 March saying http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/ma...d-body-scanner
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_184728
And, these people are serious, I found a case back from 2010 March saying http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/ma...d-body-scanner
As an American citizen, all I care about is cleaning our own house. We need to get the U.S. back on track, and let other nations' citizens decide for themselves what they will tolerate from their governments.
I'm 49 years old. I've watched Americans get super-silly-azs with the rest of the world all my life, and I've observed enough mayhem to know this practice is really dumb. Let the citizens of the UK decide what they are willing to put up with.
Let's get the U.S. squared away pronto.
Mar 14, 2011, 7:34 am
#45
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
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