20 Nov 2008

EU gives up airport 'strip search' scans

8:27 am on 20 November 2008

The European Commission is shelving plans for airport security checks that would show passengers naked on a scanner screen.

The proposal has been condemned by critics as a "virtual strip search".

Opposition to the plan in the European Parliament threatened to delay a wider airport security proposal.

However, European Commission transport spokesman Fabio Pirotta said the EU executive would try to introduce body scanners in the future.

A number of EU states already use body scanners. Mr Pirotta said they could continue to use them under national legislation.