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Source: Reuters -
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A security worker at London's Heathrow Airport has received a
police warning and faces disciplinary action over claims he ogled a
female colleague using a full-body scanner, officials said.
The 25-year-old worker made lewd comments after his colleague Jo
Margetson, 29, mistakenly strayed into the scanner, which can see
through clothes to produce an image of the body, the Sun newspaper
reported.
The case is believed to be the first of its kind since the
full-body scanners were rushed into service at a number of British
airports in the wake of an attempt by a suspected Muslim extremist
to blow up a plane bound for Detroit on December 25.
They are now being rolled out at airports across the world.
Details of the incident at Heathrow's Terminal 5 on March 10
emerged on the day lawmakers said concerns that the scanners were
intrusive had been overblown.
Margetson told the Sun she had been traumatised by what had
happened and had informed police and her bosses at the airport's
operator BAA.
"We treat any allegations of inappropriate behaviour or misuse of
security equipment very seriously and these claims are being
investigated thoroughly," said a spokeswoman for BAA.
"If found to be substantiated, we will take appropriate
action."
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said officers had been informed of
the allegation and a first instance harassment warning has been
issued to a 25-year-old man.
Opponents of scanners have argued since their introduction that
they risked breaching individuals' rights to privacy.
Britain's Equality and Human Rights Commission has already said
they might be breaking discrimination and privacy laws.
"For every official caught ogling like this, there are plenty more
eyeing up law-abiding travellers," Alex Deane, director of the Big
Brother Watch campaign group, told the Sun.
"These expensive machines are totally disproportionate."
The government says staff using the machines are properly
supervised and would not be able to see the person being
scanned.
All images are deleted.
Britain's parliamentary Home Affairs Committee said fears about the
scanners were misplaced and they should be introduced at a faster
pace to deal with the threat of terrorism.
"The Committee is satisfied that the privacy concerns that have
been expressed in relation to these devices are overstated and ...
should not prevent the deployment of scanners," it said in a
report.
