Groundbreaking technology that can detect when people are carrying hidden weapons is being trialled in London in a bid to tackle knife crime.
The new body scanners can spot weapons, including guns, knives and explosive devices, concealed under clothing at distances of up to 30ft by looking for objects that block a persons body heat.
Kit Malthouse, minister for crime and policing, said the equipment would have a big impact on public safety and offer a lesson to people who thought they could walk the streets with a knife and get away with it.
The Home Office has spent £40,000 on the scheme, which will be tested by British Transport and Metropolitan Police officers for five days in east London at Stratford train station, starting on Monday.
Designed by Oxfordshire-based company Thruvision, the technology is already in use on the Los Angeles Metro and allows officers to see the size, shape and location of any concealed item.
Advertisement
Advertisement
It does not show any intimate body parts and its not possible to know a persons gender, age or ethnicity from the imagery.
The Home Office is hoping it will allow officers to vet individuals without having to stop them or get them toRead More – Source