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Four new body scanners are being installed at Jersey Airport as part of ongoing £3m security upgrades... But what's the rationale? And how do they work?
Two of the new scanners will be in place by Thursday, with the other two due to follow.
Their installation follows the addition of new x-ray machines that allow liquids and laptops to be kept within passengers' luggage while they are checked.
Video: The new luggage scanners at Jersey Airport.
Jersey's security upgrades are intended to align with those being rolled out in the UK, with all due to be complete by June 2024.
"The new body scanners are completely safe and provide an additional layer of security. They use millimetre wave imaging to locate objects on a person that are concealed under clothing," Ports of Jersey explained.
"Millimetre wave imaging offers a superior approach for screening people compared to existing methods such as metal detectors. It works by bouncing millimetre waves off an individual's skin to produce an outline image of the person's body, showing any concealed, potentially dangerous objects.
"These scanners do not reveal the naked body or the insides of a body. Airport security staff see a generic human shape, much like a gingerbread man, without any identifying features. The generic human shape is the same for every traveller going through an airport scanner.
"Images are analysed digitally within the equipment, so the millimetre wave image of the passenger is never seen, stored, printed or transmitted. The scanner is programmed so that no image can be retained, printed or transmitted."
Can I opt out of going through the body scanners?
"Anyone who does not wish to be screened by a security scanner will need to be searched by hand instead," Ports said.
"This alternative screening method will take longer than going through a security scanner."
Preparing for a body scan
• Empty pockets of everything – including tissues, passports, phones, and boarding passes.
• Remove belts, digital watches and chunky jewellery.
• The machines can scan people who are 1-2 metres in height. Anyone outside these parameters will need to be searched by hand.
Preparing for security
• Remove outdoor clothing, boots and any shoes that reach above the ankle.
• Laptops, tablets and or other electronic devices can remain in hand luggage for screening. If you have more than one electrical device, please place other device(s) in a separate tray.
• Passengers can carry up to 2 litre containers of liquids, aerosols, and gels through airport security in their hand baggage. All liquid containers must be closed (i.e a take-away coffee cup is not permitted).
• Hand luggage will sometimes require further screening.
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