- It may sound like a gadget from a futuristic film but
the full body scanner, which sees straight through people's clothing, is
coming soon to airports in the UK.
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- A hi-tech security screening system, designed to detect
guns and other offensive weapons concealed on the body, will be unveiled
this month by the defence technology firm Qinetiq, which is part-owned
by the Government.
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- The scanners, expected to be deployed within a year as
part of Britain's armoury against terror, capture the naked image of a
traveller even if he or she is wearing several layers of clothing. But,
to protect people's modesty, they come replete with "fig-leaf technology"
that detects which parts of the body need screening out.
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- The system, which uses a special light frequency to see
through clothing, was tried out successfully at Gatwick airport and will
go on display at this year's Farnborough air show.
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- The technology was originally developed for the Ministry
of Defence to use in military helicopters to enable pilots to see through
fog. It has been adapted by Qinetiq, which used to be part of the top secret
defence research establishment at Porton Down, for civilian use.
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- The airport scanners are designed to detect concealed
metal objects including knives, guns, hand-grenades and shoe bombs on a
fully-clad human being. But the millimetre wave sensors will also highlight
metallic items of clothing including bra clasps, trouser flies and buttons.
The technology is also expected to show the presence of heart pacemakers
and metal pins that have been used to help mend broken bones. Airport operators
will be thoroughly screened to ensure their motives are not prurient or
voyeuristic, Qinetiq said. Government sources say the scanners could help
tighten security at airports while ensuring that passengers are not subjected
to delays.
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- Duncan Valentine, managing director of the transport
sector at Qinetiq, said he believed the scanners would soon be in common
use. "This launch is a significant development in the fight against
terrorism and we foresee millimetre wave technology becoming to people-screening
what X-ray is now to baggage screening."
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- Experts say that the millimetre wave scanner, unlike
X-rays, poses no health risk because it uses part of the light spectrum,
which people are exposed to every day, to see through clothing.
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- They believe it will cut significantly waits for security
screening at airports and dispense with "pat down" searches by
security guards. Only people who are shown to be carrying suspicious-looking
metallic objects in clothing or shoes will have to be checked by security
personnel.
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- "It has the ability to penetrate natural materials,"
said one expert. "What you would aim to do is to project any threats
that are found on to a screen. It would look as if someone is wearing a
body stocking." The technology has already been successfully piloted
at British ports, where scanners have seen through lorry walls to detect
illegal immigrants being smuggled into Britain.
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- The body scanners are expected to be available within
a year for other premises with high security, including government buildings
and VIP conferences.
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- The airports are also looking at employing other advanced
technology to secure airport perimeters. Radar is being tried out as a
way of preventing terrorists and intruders from reaching secure areas.
The radar can detect people after they cross an invisible line, while ensuring
that dogs and wild animals that stray do not prompt security alerts or
set off alarms.
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- Port authorities are also looking at deploying James-Bond
style "diver detection" sonar to stop terrorists planting mines
from the sea.
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- The sonar would give an advance warning of any divers
approaching a secure area.
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- © 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/story.jsp?story=519730
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