This thread has raised an issue which I was considering starting a thread on.
I have heard several complaints from different people using different airports about highly invasive 'security' checks on both men and women which have caused serious offense. In extreme cases the person being checked has even considered formal complaints of assult against the security staff.
Whilst the need for security is real there are many threads on PPRUNE that systematically rubbish the effectivness of security measures whilst alliagnatting the innocent.
Does anyone know for certain (no hearsay) what level of legal authority security staff have for personally invasive serches, or what the outcome would be of refusing to submit to a search that was considered demeaning or offensive?