Full-body scanners are set to become a common sight at UK airports, with BAA pledging to install them “as soon as it is practical” at Heathrow. Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the introduction of the scanners – which produce a “naked” image of passengers to check for hidden objects – was crucial to improve security. The prime minister’s comments come just days after he ordered an urgent review of airport security following the foiled terrorist attack on a US aircraft on Christmas Day. And the decision to install the scanners has become despite protests from privacy campaigners and scepticism from experts who believe they would not be able to spot certain types of devices. A BAA spokesman confirmed the airport operator would now press forward with the introduction of the scanners. But details of timescales – and the effect the introduction of the machines is likely to have on passenger waiting times – have not been revealed.
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