ID :
192902
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 09:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/192902
The shortlink copeid
AUSTRALIA TO USE INETRNAL BODY SCANNING TECHNOLOGY AT AIRPORTS
By NEVILLE D'CRUZ
MELBOURNE, July 5 (Bernama) -- The Australian Minister for Home Affairs
Brendan O'Connor says legislation passed by Parliament Monday will enable
internal body scanning technology to be used at airports to stop drug couriers.
Customs and Border Protection will test internal body scanning technology
as a way to boost the detection of drugs that are being imported inside the
bodies of drug couriers.
The changes to the Customs Act 1901 will allow accredited Customs officers
to offer suspects the option of an internal body scan at an international
airport, as part of a year-long trial, he said.
To conduct a body scan, a reasonable suspicion must be formed that a person
is carrying drugs internally and the suspect must consent to being scanned. If
they refuse, they will instead undergo the current practice of a hospital
examination.
"In 2009-10, 48 drug couriers were identified for attempting to import more
than 27 kilograms of illicit drugs within their bodies, including heroin and
cocaine," O'Connor said in a statement.
"Bringing illicit drugs into Australia is illegal. We want to do all we can
to stop drug importation and protect Australian families from the immeasurable
harm caused by drug use.
"Internally secreted drugs pose a dire health risk to a courier. It is not
unusual for packages to split and for drug couriers to face serious illness or
death as a result.
"Body scanning technology will help to more promptly identify if a suspect
is carrying drugs internally and allow medical help to be rendered quickly,"
O'Connor said.
In 2009-10, 205 people were taken to hospital for examination under
suspicion of having drugs concealed internally and upon medical examination,
less than a quarter were found to be carrying drugs.
The option of an internal body scan will more quickly clear legitimate
travellers and ensure minimum delay at airports.
The use of internal body scanning technology at airports is also expected to
save significant time and money to the Customs, the Australian Federal Police
and hospitals.
At the moment, when a person is suspected of internally concealing drugs,
they are taken to a hospital for examination by a doctor.
Last year police officers spent almost 8,300 hours guarding suspects,
including more than 4,600 hours in hospital waiting rooms, rather than policing
the airports and other public areas.
The technology produces images similar to a medical x-ray showing internal
body tissue, skeleton and, where present, internal drug concealments.
"As Minister for Privacy, I'm acutely aware of community concerns about the
use of such technology. I'd like to assure the public that this technology will
be subject to strict controls," O'Connor said.
-- BERNAMA
MELBOURNE, July 5 (Bernama) -- The Australian Minister for Home Affairs
Brendan O'Connor says legislation passed by Parliament Monday will enable
internal body scanning technology to be used at airports to stop drug couriers.
Customs and Border Protection will test internal body scanning technology
as a way to boost the detection of drugs that are being imported inside the
bodies of drug couriers.
The changes to the Customs Act 1901 will allow accredited Customs officers
to offer suspects the option of an internal body scan at an international
airport, as part of a year-long trial, he said.
To conduct a body scan, a reasonable suspicion must be formed that a person
is carrying drugs internally and the suspect must consent to being scanned. If
they refuse, they will instead undergo the current practice of a hospital
examination.
"In 2009-10, 48 drug couriers were identified for attempting to import more
than 27 kilograms of illicit drugs within their bodies, including heroin and
cocaine," O'Connor said in a statement.
"Bringing illicit drugs into Australia is illegal. We want to do all we can
to stop drug importation and protect Australian families from the immeasurable
harm caused by drug use.
"Internally secreted drugs pose a dire health risk to a courier. It is not
unusual for packages to split and for drug couriers to face serious illness or
death as a result.
"Body scanning technology will help to more promptly identify if a suspect
is carrying drugs internally and allow medical help to be rendered quickly,"
O'Connor said.
In 2009-10, 205 people were taken to hospital for examination under
suspicion of having drugs concealed internally and upon medical examination,
less than a quarter were found to be carrying drugs.
The option of an internal body scan will more quickly clear legitimate
travellers and ensure minimum delay at airports.
The use of internal body scanning technology at airports is also expected to
save significant time and money to the Customs, the Australian Federal Police
and hospitals.
At the moment, when a person is suspected of internally concealing drugs,
they are taken to a hospital for examination by a doctor.
Last year police officers spent almost 8,300 hours guarding suspects,
including more than 4,600 hours in hospital waiting rooms, rather than policing
the airports and other public areas.
The technology produces images similar to a medical x-ray showing internal
body tissue, skeleton and, where present, internal drug concealments.
"As Minister for Privacy, I'm acutely aware of community concerns about the
use of such technology. I'd like to assure the public that this technology will
be subject to strict controls," O'Connor said.
-- BERNAMA
