Passengers who refuse full-body scan 'to be prevented from flying'

Date: 2/2/2010

New security rules are to come into force preventing people from flying if they refuse to take part in a full body scan, it has been reported.

The scanners have been put in place at Heathrow and Manchester airports and are to be installed at Birmingham airport later this month.

Transport secretary Lord Adonis stated that only a small proportion of airline passengers will be selected for a scan.

However, he said in a written statement to the House of Commons that "if a passenger is selected for scanning, and declines, they will not be permitted to fly".

The new technology has been introduced since Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate a bomb on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day.

Campaigners have raised concerns over the breach of passengers' rights to privacy by using the full-body scanners.

According to the Department of Transport, a code of practice has been put in place covering privacy and data protection issues.