Photographing/searching passengers at airports

[Dom Tuk]

I am very pleased that the person who sued the airport for photographing him before his flight has won his case and some compensation. The police and other law enforcement agencies have very strict guidelines about who can be photgraphed and fingerprinted. It is set in the law. So how did civilian contractors get away with photographing passengers all this time. On another point which legislation gives civilian security personnel the powers of search when the X ray machine beeps at airports.Anyone care to point me to the relevant act/legislation.

[JudgeJ]

The answer to this is quite straightforward and the question of legislation is irrelavant.

The airport authorities cannot compel you to submit to a search. But likewise you cannot compel them to let you board an aircraft. The search procedure is carried out by mutual consent and for the benefit of all travellers.

Any thought you may have of seeking legal redress under civil law (i.e. getting your money back following their refusal to let you travel) would be bound to fail. The conditions attached to your ticket will undoubtedly include a clause that requires you to abide by the regulations laid down by the airport and the airline. Sometimes the rights of the individual have to be sacrificed for the greater good!