Scanner radios in hand luggage?

Hi, hope someone can help. Have a plane mad 9 year old who has a scanner radio he hopes to be able to use airside when we travel soon from LGW. Does anyone know if he'll be able to take this through security or if it's something that we'll need to pack in luggage? Obviously if he can take it through security, it'd just be to use in the terminal, & we'd take the batteries out before we board, but not sure if it'd be worth any hassle we may get from security.

Anyone have any ideas? TIA.

I don't think you'd have any trouble actually getting the scanner through security as such, Howeve should you get a clued up security officer who knows what it is then they may have an issue with it.

Whilst many people regularly use scanners within the UK, Using a Radio scanner to Listen in to ATC frequencies in the UK is illegal and as such (by law) should not be done at all anywhere.

So as I said above if it is recognised by security you may have to explain that you won't use it until you arrive at your destination presuming you are flying abroad to a country that allows this practice.

I am well aware many people buy scanners to listen in to ATC and nothing is done to try and stop them nor catch and prosecute them, But just be aware it is Ilegal within the UK and should you find someone who is very strict or simply just having a bad day then they might have something to say about it.