Support Our Work Mailing list About / Contact
  • Home /
  • News /
  • 2010 /
  • June /
  • EU: BODY SCANNERS: European Commission: Use of Security Scanners at EU airports

EU: BODY SCANNERS: European Commission: Use of Security Scanners at EU airports

01 June 2010

Support our work: become a Friend of Statewatch from as little as £1/€1 per month.

EU: BODY SCANNERS: European Commission: Use of Security Scanners at EU airports (COM 311/4, pdf). The Communication summaries the four different technologies which can be used to detect non-metallic, plastic and liquid explosives:

- Passive millimetre-wave: "Passive millimetre-wave" do not emit any radiation and produces "rough, blurred images".
- Active millimetre-wave: "reveal some surface detail of the body" and "non-ionising radiation" which "above certain limit values may cause damage": used by the Netherlands and the USA.
- X-ray backscatter: "reveal some surface detail of the body" and ionising radiation, low dosage but depends how often used on person: used by the UK and the USA, and
- X-ray transmission imaging which is not considered an option.

Existing normal walk-through scanners can detect metal objects and the the EU has already agreed that by 29 April 2014, all airports must have the capability to screen liquids, aerosols and gels in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EC) N° 300/2008: See: Introduction of liquids onboard of aircrafts: State of play (pdf). This would seem to leave the detection of plastic and liquid explosives: Perhaps what is needed, instead of body scanners, are non-intrusive walk-through scanners that can detect metal and plastic/liquid explosives?

Our work is only possible with your support.
Become a Friend of Statewatch from as little as £1/€1 per month.

 Previous article

UK: Anti Trafficking Monitoring Group: Wrong kind of victims? One year on: an analysis of UK measures to protect trafficked people

Next article 

UK: NORTHERN IRELAND: Bloody Sunday report: 38 years on, justice at last - Saville report finds Bloody Sunday killings 'unjustified' - Soldiers could be prosecuted for murder or lying to inquiry

 

Spotted an error? If you've spotted a problem with this page, just click once to let us know.

Report error

Statewatch does not have a corporate view, nor does it seek to create one, the views expressed are those of the author. Statewatch is not responsible for the content of external websites and inclusion of a link does not constitute an endorsement. Registered UK charity number: 1154784. Registered UK company number: 08480724. Registered company name: The Libertarian Research & Education Trust. Registered office: MayDay Rooms, 88 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1DH. © Statewatch ISSN 1756-851X. Personal usage as private individuals "fair dealing" is allowed. We also welcome links to material on our site. Usage by those working for organisations is allowed only if the organisation holds an appropriate licence from the relevant reprographic rights organisation (eg: Copyright Licensing Agency in the UK) with such usage being subject to the terms and conditions of that licence and to local copyright law.

About | Contact | Privacy Policy