Still no decision on body scanners at MIA

The possibility of introducing full-body scanners at Malta International Airport has been under evaluation for the past year, but it has not yet been decided whether they will be introduced.

Malta is following the debate on this technology at EU level, which was sparked off after the failed attempt by a Nigerian man to blow up an aircraft over Detroit on Christmas Day.

The Office of the Manager Airport Security, within the Home Affairs Ministry, issued a statement yesterday saying that right after this attack on board Northwest Airlines it reviewed the security procedures with MIA.

"Body scanners can be an added tool to airports. However, this is certainly not the ultimate answer to the detection of prohibited articles. This new technology is still in testing phase and requires further study.

So far, only three EU countries have committed to deploying such technology and only in selected airports within their territories," the office said.

The office said current security standards for passenger screening adopted at the MIA met international and regional requirements.

"These same standards are in place at all EU airports and are adopted for all flights not departing to the US."

The fact the would-be bomber succeeded in boarding a flight with explosive powder sewn into his underwear has led to renewed calls in the US and Europe to beef up security.

The focus has turned to the installation of full-body scanners, which produce X-ray-like images that can reveal if there are any packages concealed in a passenger's clothing.

However, there has been criticism that these scanners do not have the ability to detect low-density materials, such as powders, liquids, thin pieces of plastic, or anything that resembles skin.

There has also been widespread concern about invasion of privacy and the scanners have been likened to a virtual strip-search since they can reveal the curves of a person's body on the screens viewed by security officers.

Some EU countries are also concerned these scanners may be dangerous to staff and passengers because of the radiation they emit.

However, the American College of Radiology issued a statement last week saying a passenger on a long-distance flight received more radiation from the cosmic rays while flying than while passing through a scanner at the airport.

On Thursday, the EU Regulatory Committee for Civil Aviation Security "unanimously underlined the need for an EU approach to addressing the security situation, including the use of imaging technology - commonly referred to as body scanners - as one means for screening passengers".

However, a common position has yet to be taken by all 27 member states on the need to introduce body scanners across EU airports.

Contacted yesterday, a ministry spokesman said body scanners could only effectively replace a physical pat-down search, since they could not detect what was inside the body.

He also believed it would be impossible to scan every person.

Each machine can approximately handle one to two people a minute, so if all the passengers boarding an Airbus 320 were screened it would take almost three hours, he explained.

One scanner costs about €200,000, which would involve a considerable expense, especially for countries with several airports, he added.

"It is still too early to decide whether Malta will introduce these scanners or not. We are following the ongoing debate in the EU and will act in the interest of passengers," he said.