A dad was quizzed by armed cops after refusing to use a ‘naked scanner’ at Manchester airport.
Steven Bradshaw, 53, was pulled to one side when he told a security guard the controversial machine was ‘Big Brother technology’ and ‘invasive’.
Mr Bradshaw, from Poynton, missed his flight to Gatwick and connection to Madeira after declining the scan and was forced to undergo a criminal records check while two armed policeman stood guard.
The scanners reveal hidden items such as bombs or wiring, but also show up a clear black-and-white outline of body parts.
Mr Bradshaw, who runs his own T-shirt printing firm, said: “I was surprised that there was no alternative to the scan like a ‘pat-down’ or a ‘strip to underwear search’ which I was prepared to endure.
“On the contrary, I was informed that a refusal to be body scanned meant that you don't fly, full stop.
“Two armed police officers and a host of officials were summoned to deal with this situation. They were asking ‘Why won’t you go through?’ I explained to each interviewer that it was a matter of principal and that I considered the scanner to be an invasion of privacy.
“I was released half an hour later and had to wait a further hour for my check-in luggage to be retrieved.”
Passengers, who are selected at random for the virtual strip search, were at first allowed to opt for a traditional ‘pat down’ check.
But a government rule change now means anyone who refuses to be scanned is barred from flying.
Two Muslim women became the first passengers to refuse to be screened. One refused to go through because of her religious views, while her companion declined for medical reasons.
Mr Bradshaw, who lives with wife Julie, 49, and daughter Janine, now says he will fly from an alternative airport which does not use the technology.
A spokesman for Manchester Airport said: “Since February 2010, and because of the foiled Christmas Day bomb plot in 2009, the government instructed airports already operating body scanners to make the technology mandatory. Over 400,000 people have used the technology at Manchester and the majority of passengers rate the process to be an improvement on the traditional airport security ‘pat down’ check.”
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Hooray...... a man of principle prepared to stand up for his civil rights, the so called security apparatus at Manchester airport is spiraling out of control, where else would you have to pay to suffer such personal abuse?
if he didnt want to be canned - simply should have been told scan or no fly - why did they have to then go through all that palaver - overkill1
I don't see what the big deal is if you have nothing to hide????
‘Big Brother technology’ and ‘invasive’. Tell that to the Lockerbie victims and you can guess the response you clown!!
So why fly from that airport in the first place, surely you knew there was a risk that you would be stopped, nowt stranger than folk eh!
Its the rules.
He declines to obey and suffers the consequences.
Where is the problem with that?
You should have gone through it or did you have something to hind
Ha Ha so glad you missed your flight, these scanners are there to protect yourself and fellow passengers. Its no big deal being scanned, unless you have somthing to hide.Totally agree with airport.
Having been through this scanner, while my girlfriend while my went through the the Normal scanner. I really don't see what the problem is?! Yes i felt a bit silly being told to put my hands up near on my head, but i found having to take my belt from my jeans and mobile, ipod etc out of my pockets and put them into a box and collect them at other end more of a chore.
I'm all for these etc checks, it takes 10 seconds max to be scanned and then your on your way to relax in the bar/court.
Its all for our safety. Plus, id rather fly from our own Airport, than grotty Gatwick or Heathrow.
These scanners are a farce.
Why do we continually attack the symtoms and not the cause?
Because we're arrogant, dogmatic fools! (or our leaders are!)
I can think of cheaper ways to avoid taking the missus away
It is invasive but in todays world totally necessary I don't like the idea of going through a body scanner but if asked I wouldn't refuse it is after all for the safety of myself my fellow passengers and the crew to say nothing of the people on the ground
"Steven Bradshaw... told a security guard the controversial machine was ‘Big Brother technology’ and ‘invasive’. Mr Bradshaw ... said: “I was surprised that there was no alternative to the scan like a ... ‘strip to underwear search’ which I was prepared to endure."
What's the difference? Sounds like someone trying to prove a point, when there isn't a point to prove.
And someone physically patting you down is not an invasion of privacy?
Get a grip.
"Steven Bradshaw, 53, was pulled to one side when he told a security guard the controversial machine was ‘Big Brother technology’ and ‘invasive’"
Saying it would take all his details and store them on a database for the rest of his life making him vunerable to all sorts of crime.
If people elect to have a pat down check because they have an objection to going through a scanner, which enables others to see them naked, I think their rights to personal privacy should be respected. To treat them in the way Mr Bradshaw was treated is ridiculous.
He just looks like he moans at ANYTHING! Stuborn customer's.....you can do without them, as if people havn't got enough on their hands! While he was being quizzed by armed police, someone COULD of evaded security....Moron!
what's he going to do when all airports install these scanners?
So he refused the scanner because it was invasive, yet was willing to have his clothes removed for a full search? Isn't that more invasive?
He says it was a matter of principle, which is fine. But surely he knew this scanner was in operation at Manchester airport, so why go there in the first place?
Or did he just want his photo in the paper?
What a waste of police time this chap is!!!
rules are rules i'm afraid and if it means we are safer then so be it!!
Muppet..... how would he feel if his family was on a plane that was blown up or hijacked. I think everyone should go through the machine
I am unsure were the story is? If you don't go through the scan you don't fly. Yes, armed police do work at the airport and sometimes they ask questions!.....
This is really quite simple; the scanners are there, if you don't want to be scanned, don't fly from there. You have the power of choice. Little willy eh?
maybe he has no willy, 2 willys or a really small willy.