Originally Posted by calikak
I don't mean to be alarmist, but a girlfriend of a friend of mine was actually subjected to a body cavity search at a US airport last week. She had not set off a metal detector, nor did she or her luggage test positive for any explosives or drugs. She has no criminal record.
Wow
Body cavity searches can be performed over here in the UK, but only if a magistrate has signed an order allowing it, which means Customs (its usually only for smuggling, I've NEVER heard of it being used as a security thing, and not sure that would actually be legal) must show probable cause.....
Please don't tell me that body cavity searches are subject to no oversight, and require no legal review before being proceeded with?
well if so there's yet another reason not to visit the US!
What I consider reasonable: jackets off, not shoes. Patted down if alarmed or wearing anything too bulky. I don't even mind my underwired bra being felt up. Handbaggage searched as required by x-ray. Total hold screening (as defined in Europe - where everything going in gets screened), and no baggage flies without a passenger - i.e passenger no-shows, luggage is offloaded before plane departs - commonly called baggage reconciliation. Where baggage misconnects, it gets special screening.