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Passengers To Face Increased Airport Security

Wed, 06 Jan 2010

The government has confirmed it is to tighten security at all UK airports in response to the failed air travel terror attack on Christmas Day.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said full body scanners will be introduced across Britain’s airports as part of additional security measures, with the first expected to be installed at London Heathrow by the end of the month.

Under the new measures, all UK airports will also be expected to introduce explosive trace detection equipment by the end of the year, and airport security staff will be able to carry out more searches on both passengers and their luggage.

Mr Johnson said airport operator BAA has also started training some security staff in behavioural analysis techniques.

A spokesman for BAA commented: "Now that the government has given the go-ahead, we will introduce full body-scanners as soon as practical.

"It is our view that a combination of technology, intelligence and passenger profiling will help build a more robust defence against the unpredictable and changing nature of the terrorist threat to aviation."

The latest measures come following an attempted terrorist attack in the US by Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who tried to detonate explosives on a Delta Air Lines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas .

Full body scanners have been on trial at Manchester airport since the start of December. A spokeswoman for the travel hub said more customers were backing the technology following the failed airline attack.
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