UK public endorses full-body airport scanners

UK airports have recently introduced full body scanners

Ninety per cent of UK citizens are willing to undergo full electronic body scans at airports to ensure a safe flight, according to new research by Unisys.

Full-body scanners were introduced in UK airports after an attempted bomb attack on a US-bound plane before Christmas last year, but privacy organisations and child protections agencies raised concerns about the implications of a system that produces and stores effectively naked images of passengers.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission said in February that scanners being used at Heathrow and Manchester airports invade people's right to privacy and could break UK law.

However, new research from the UK Unisys Security Index shows that the public is supportive of the equipment's introduction, and would rather sacrifice privacy than flight safety.

"Following the failed Christmas Day bomb, people are more prepared than ever to sacrifice privacy and convenience for security," said Unisys.

The research also showed that 87 per cent of the UK public are 'worried', and 59 per cent 'seriously concerned', about falling victim to ID theft.

The survey is conducted twice yearly, and assessed 8,360 people in nine countries.