Weapons
Detectors: What's Available on the Market?
As
the Prime Minister announced hand-held metal detectors would be introduced
in key areas to help beat knife and gun crime, Securizine takes a look
at what's currently available.
Last week, Prime Minister Gordon Brown revealed his latest plans to
tackle the growing menace of knife and gun crime.
Addressing the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth, Mr Brown said
that two thirds of deaths from gun crime occur in just four cities:
Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and London.
As a result, he and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith have decided to focus
on these areas in a bid to tackle the problem.
Mr Brown said he wanted to 'match intensive uniformed patrolling and
extensive undercover work with the use of stop and search powers and
dispersal powers; reinforced by new hand-held detectors'.
Hand-held detectors are not new territory for many forces in England
and Wales. Indeed many routinely use them. But further north in Scotland,
forces realised some years ago that there were significant numbers of
people who carried weapons as a matter of course and have tried to tackle
the problem head on. An anti-violence 'blitz' in1994 in Strathclyde
as part of Safer Scotland, saw officers using a range of detectors,
including the hand-held variety. By July 2006, 1000 hand-held detectors
had been deployed across Scottish forces.
Equally, pockets in England and Wales, also adopted hand-held detectors,
as early as 2002. Sussex police in Eastbourne used them to tackle violent
crime in the town.
Ch Insp Martin Stevens, borough commander, said at the time, ‘I
could see no reason why this activity could not be extended to officers
undertaking street intervention searches.’
It appears to have worked. Eastbourne saw a six per cent drop in street
violence over a six month period.
In the UK, detectors were adopted by Kent who used Gatescan-P scanners
(http://www.scanna-msc.com)
as part of its Christmas campaign in 2006. According to the company,
the force was the first to use these scanners. Although not hand-held,
they are portable and can be moved from location to location.
It comes as no surprise that there are a whole range of products on the market designed to detect weapons. Garrett produces the Superscanner Body Scanner and Superwand Hand-held detector which have been used by the British Transport Police in an anti-knife crime initiative, but there is also the XP Security Metal Detector and the Scanmaster Security Hand Detector to name a few.
A more recent addition is the new Super Scanner (MD6) hand held metal
detector which is marketed as the most powerful detector of its type.
It has the ability to detect: small firearm (9"), pocket knife
(6"), Razor Blade (3"), hatpin (1"). And for £55
comes complete with Belt Pouch, earphone and 12 volt charger. (MD6)
Super Scanner - Price (inc VAT): £55.00
Web: http://www.garrett.com
http://www.metaldetectorshop.co.uk/security/securitymetaldetectors.htm
Technology
has moved on and there are now a number of devices that are more discreet.
Debuting last year at the International Policing Conference was a product
called EazySearch Security Metal Detector.This hand worn metal detection
system with a silent vibrate alert feature detects flat objects such
as razor blades and customised blades. It's light and portable and retails
for around £199.00.
Web: http://www.eazytext.com
EazySearch
Security Metal Detector
Also
available is the MIT which has been specifically designed for pat down
and hand search procedures where the operator wants to be in close contact
with the subject being searched. It can be worn on either hand and retails
at around £125.
Web: http://www.renful.co.uk
MIT
detector
A Kevlar glove was adopted by Strathclyde police for an anti-violence campaign in July 2006. Marketed as the world's first 'hands free' metal detector gloves, it is battery-operated and allows officers to scan an individual for weapons with fingertips or the palms of the hands. When metal is found, it vibrates. They are also stab-proof.
Kevlar
glove
Deputy Head of the Violence Reduction Unit, Karyn McCluskey, said at
the time: ‘It is important we look at innovative ways of tackling
violence and we are confident that these gloves will allow officers
to search people in a safe and efficient manner.’
With the announcement last week, the market is likely to witness the
arrival of many more hand-held detectors, but help is at hand for forces
trying to choose.
According to Police Minister, Tony McNulty, The Home Office Scientific
Development Branch (HOSDB) has been made aware of metal detecting gloves
by at least one UK supplier and they appear in the HOSDB 'Manual of
Search and Detection Equipment' which goes out to all UK police forces
each year.
Other types of metal detector are also featured, and no doubt the HOSDB
2008 show 12th and 13th March at RAF Halton, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
will give officers an opportunity to see what's on offer.