Airport investigates pain pat down issue
01.04.10
Birmingham Airport is reviewing security procedures after a person at the airport stated being touched by guards would cause him pain, the BBC reports. David Foster, who has extreme fibromyalgia, a muscle and connective tissue condition, had been carrying out a disability audit at the airport. He said he told guards he would rather take off his clothes in a room on the airport as an alternative of being patted down. The airport said it was discussing the incident with the Department for Transport, to obtain guidance regaring the actions it could or should take.
Mr Foster, who is the chair of Rugby Disability Forum stated the airport apologised following the incident, which occurred on a visit last month. He told the BBC: ‘I said 'no, I can not be touched, sorry' and all hell broke loose because they said 'well we've got to touch you, we've got to pat you down. I said 'OK, what I'll do, I can't be touched, I'll go into a room, I'll take my clothes off. There you are, you can see I've got nothing on me'.’
However, he said the guards stated they were not allowed to do that and he did not go any further through security. Mr Foster said he subsequently received a telephone call from the airport security manager.
In a statement, the airport said it understood Mr Foster's case was ‘a unique situation’. It said: ‘We follow the Department for Transport security guidelines that require all UK airports to carry out body screening on each and every individual that enters a restricted zone, either by metal detection or bodily search. We are therefore in the process of discussing Mr Foster's scenario with the Department for Transport to seek guidance on how to proceed with this situation so that Mr Foster might take air travel once more.’
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