Letter: Supreme indignity

Sir: I read with some sympathy of Diana Ross's outburst after her body search at Heathrow ("Ross told: Stop, in the name of law", 23 September). The airport spokesman is quoted as saying that certain "high-profile celebrities take offence", implying that other airport users find the procedure acceptable. This is simply not the case.

We acquiesce because at the time we have no other option. Having been searched myself, I can say that I found it quite humiliating to be taken aside in full view of other passengers and subjected to this undignified process.

It must be possible to modify security procedures to make the body-search a last rather than first resort in cases where the metal detector is set off, and to make it less public. The process is akin to assault, and quite distressing.