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A security officer demonstrates a full body scan image on a computer screen on trial at Manchester Airport on Jan. 7, 2010 in Manchester, England. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
The Manchester, England airport must do away with controversial body-scanning machines because they were not given European Union approval.
The machines are commonly used in airports throughout the United States. They use low-level X-rays to create an image, but these machines have drawn criticism over privacy and health concerns.
Andrew Harrison, chief executive of MAG, the Manchester Airport’s parent company, was not pleased with the decision to get rid of the devices.
“We’re baffled by this situation because health experts say they are safe plus the overwhelming majority of our passengers and security staff prefer body scanners to frisking and it’s frustrating that Brussels has allowed this successful trial to end,” Harrison told the Daily Telegraph.
The security scanners were setup in 2009 but have to be removed by next month.
“Our security surveys and those run by the Department for Transport show passengers regularly rate their experience at Manchester as one of the best security processes in the U.K. if not Europe,” Harrison told the Metro newspaper.The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.
