BA worker 'traumatised' by Gatwick strip search

An airport worker subjected to a strip search by Gatwick security guards today told how she has been too traumatised to return to work.

Renee O'Brien, 33, of Brighton, was taken to a private room and ordered to strip after setting off a metal detector.

Miss O'Brien, who works in customer services for British Airways, said: "It was very uncomfortable. I left in tears and I couldn't work for the rest of the day. I was absolutely furious. I feel like they just picked on me.

"My doctor has signed me off work through stress since it happened."

Miss O'Brien says she was searched while working at the airport on 25 February. She said: "I was halfway through a 13-hour shift and some time around 4pm I was going through security.

"The security guard used the hand-held scanner but then said she needed to do a strip search. They made me wait about 20 minutes while another female was found to witness the search."

A spokesman for airport operator BAA said: "We are aware of this incident and it is currently being investigated."