Customs scanners in UK?
Jan 13, 2010 | 11:14 am
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2006
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Customs scanners in UK?
This is one about after flying rather than before flying, so please move it if it's in the wrong place 
I have noticed recently that the Customs EU channels in UK airports (Luton for one) are being fitted with what appear to be scanner arches - a large metal arch around the bit you walk through, or sometimes two. Dover ferryport appears to have something similar that you drive through.
Does anyone know what these are and what they are for? I had a theory that they might be thermal imaging devices of some sort to detect stowaways and swine flu - or are they something else?
I'd have thought that if they were full-body X-ray machines there'd need to be some sort of notice for safety reasons?
Neil
I have noticed recently that the Customs EU channels in UK airports (Luton for one) are being fitted with what appear to be scanner arches - a large metal arch around the bit you walk through, or sometimes two. Dover ferryport appears to have something similar that you drive through.
Does anyone know what these are and what they are for? I had a theory that they might be thermal imaging devices of some sort to detect stowaways and swine flu - or are they something else?
I'd have thought that if they were full-body X-ray machines there'd need to be some sort of notice for safety reasons?
Neil
Jan 13, 2010 | 12:23 pm
#2
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Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,953
I think they are the SPO scanners:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/...e-delayed.html
The passive approach is used in a scanner called SPO, made by the UK company Qinetiq, which is designed to scan crowds of people. Unlike systems that produce images of near-naked bodies, SPO activates a warning light if a person walking past it appears to be concealing something on their body. The suspect individual can then be taken aside and searched. This should minimise privacy concerns, says company spokeswoman Claire Scotter.
Jan 13, 2010 | 2:06 pm
#3
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Join Date: Nov 2006
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Posts: 1,762
Neil
Jan 13, 2010 | 2:10 pm
#4
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Join Date: Nov 2006
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Found this thread - seems they might be giant Geiger counters!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/archive/t-995543.html
Neil
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/archive/t-995543.html
Neil