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The controversial body scanners being installed at airports throughout the UK in the wake of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's failed Christmas Day bomb attempt over Detroit, will be operated under new security rules effective from yesterday.

Heathrow and Manchester airports have been the first to start operating the new system, which makes it compulsory for selected passengers to undergo a full body scan. Any passenger refusing to be scanned will be denied boarding.

The scanners reveal a detailed image of the body which critics say breach passengers' rights to privacy, however Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, says the Department of Transport has published an interim code of practice covering privacy, health and safety, data protection and equality issues.

"The code will require airports to undertake scanning sensitively, having regard to the rights of passengers" he said, and suggested that only a small proportion of passengers will be selected for scanning. These passengers include...

* Passengers who have requested a private search prior to or after passing through the walk-through metal detection equipment.

* Passengers who have been referred for a private search following an unresolved metal detection alarm or if the security officer believes that further investigation is required following completion of the hand search process.

* If explosive trace detection equipment causes an alarm to sound, or if vapour detection equipment has caused an alarm.

* Any passenger can also be selected at random without regard to personal characteristics for a scan.

"If a passenger is selected for scanning, and declines, they will not be permitted to fly", he said.

Manchester Airport’s Head of Customer Experience, Sarah Barrett, has also sought to allay privacy fears, confirming that the image generated by the body scanner cannot be stored or captured nor can security officers viewing the images recognise people.

"Contrary to reports, the equipment does not allow security staff to see passengers naked", she said.

Full body scanners are expected to be operating at Birmingham airport in March.