Random selection for the Heathrow ‘see through clothes’ body scanner trials

On my way out to Boston, I left from Heathrow terminal 4, where they’re currently trialing a new full body scanner as an alternative to walking through the metal detectors at the security checkpoints. They have notices up informing you that they are trialling a new body scanner and that one might be ‘randomly’ selected to go through the new scanner. If you decline to take part in the trial they will perform a full hand search.

Of course the signs explaining this don’t mention that this scanner will quite literally ‘see through clothes’, leaving nothing at all to the imagination. Having previously read The Register’s article on this trail, I’ve seen examples of the explicit images produced. So just how randomly are the participants selected ? Well, in the 15 minutes I was standing in line waiting, approximately 10 people were selected to through the scanner, all attractive women, around the age of 20 – 30, travelling alone. Apparently a far from random selection process for this ‘see through clothes’ scanner.