New airport body scanner blocks naked images

Image: L3

Passengers going through security at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4 are being offered a little more privacy as trials for a new 'less invasive' body scanner take place.

Until now, Provision scanners have allowed security staff to get graphic pictures of passengers' naked bodies (below), but new software being trialled means that these pictures are replaced with cartoon-like 'stick men' (see image above). Any 'danger areas' will be highlighted in yellow squares.

And for the first time, passengers will be able to see exactly what the security staff are looking at.

Image: L3

Ian Hutcheson, Security Director at BAA, said: 'At Heathrow, we are constantly looking for ways to ensure that high security standards don't have a negative impact on passenger experience. The new bodyscanners are an important step towards meeting this goal.'

The ProVision L3 scanners use low-power radio waves to scan passengers for explosives or hidden weapons.

The scanners are likely to continue be used as an alternative to full-body searches - but it's hoped that the new version will be less distressing for passengers.