A PASSENGER has been awarded '4,000 compensation after Manchester Airport took his photograph without permission.

The landmark pay-out, for breaking data protection rules, could open the floodgates to thousands of other claims. Another passenger has been given '2,000 in an out-of-court settlement and 20 other travellers have begun legal action against the airport. Two claims have been rejected.

Photographs are taken as people on domestic flights go through security and baggage checks at Terminals One and Three.

The pictures are scanned onto a barcode stuck on the back of boarding cards so staff can check the correct passenger is boarding a flight and stop domestic passengers buying goods at duty-free prices.

Manchester Airport has admitted that people can refuse to have their photograph taken, and said it has now reviewed its procedures.

Tim Hedgley, a 45-year-old writer, complained after his picture was taken against his will at the airport in June 2003. He was on his way home to Belfast at the time.

When he refused to pose for the camera he was taken to immigration where his photograph was taken despite his protests. But security staff then failed to put the barcode on his ticket and he was ordered off the plane to face a 10-minute grilling by police before being allowed back on.

Exception

In August 2004 on another visit to the airport, Mr Hedgley complained again, and was again photographed against his will and escorted through the terminal by two armed police officers to the gate.

Mr Hedgley says he feared that his picture could be distributed elsewhere or kept on file. The airport insists that the shots are deleted after 12 hours.

He said: "I was asked to look at the camera and I took exception to that. I knew that photographing me could only be done with my consent. I am 100 per cent behind improved security. But I was cross because my rights were being abused. I felt that my privacy had been invaded."

After a year-long battle for an apology, airport bosses settled the case and he was awarded '4,000 - '2,000 for each photo.

Manchester Airport has now produced leaflets advising passengers of their rights. Security staff have been told that passengers refusing to be photographed can stay landside until their flight is called when a security officer will escort them to the gate.

A spokesman said: "Passengers are not compelled to have their photo taken and there is a procedure in place to accommodate any objections. However, most passengers are willing to be photographed."

A spokesman for the Information Commissioner's Office, responsible for enforcing the Data Protection Act, said: "Notification should be given whenever possible that pictures are being taken of you. Permission should be given wherever possible. If someone refuses to have their photo taken, other procedures should be in place.

"It's a breach of the Act if a person has expressly said that they do not want a photo to be taken."

Should the airport have been fined? Have your say.