Within a few days of Terminal 5 opening, one of our staff members was stripped down to her titties. She called for one of the BAA managers, and for one of our own managers before submitting, but it was made crystal clear that if she didn't submit to an intimate search she wouldn't be allowed to access the airside part of the terminal
No airside access = no work
No work = no pay!
As passengers, you are not alone! The staff have to comply too..
The staff do not have to comply with strip searches and nor does anybody else. Would it be reasonable for the police to strip search somebody in these circumstances? They could not do so. Police and Criminal Evidence Act Code of Practice C Annexe A and B details what needs to be done for a strip search or intimate search. You would have to have been arrested. If these things are so tightly regulated for the police why would airport security staff be allowed to make it up as they go along. Don't assume because somebody has a fluorescent tabard and makes it 'crystal clear' that they aren't just talking total nonsense. Get some backbone and stand up for your rights and liberties. I can't believe how compliant and passive some people are to this sort of jobsworth idiocy.