Six UK companies have been funded a share of more than £460,000
to fast-track innovative technologies that aim to detect people
carrying knives in crowded places such as streets, railway
stations and major events.
Distinguishing concealed blades from other items such as keys and
coins is challenging for the police, particularly among large
crowds.
Now, with funding from the Home Office and Department of
Transport, 6 companies are exploring how solutions involving
radar and electromagnetic and acoustic sensors could help detect
steel-bladed knives.
Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability said:
Recent senseless killings that have snatched young lives away
have shocked people across the UK.
We are determined to protect families from these devastating
crimes, and new technology must play a key role in this,
together with effective early intervention work and strong law
enforcement.
I’m pleased the government has been able to support these
exciting and innovative projects which have the potential to
rid our streets of dangerous weapons.
Transport Minister said:
The safety of passengers is absolutely paramount and we are
committed to tackling the scourge of knife crime. I’ve seen
first-hand this week the exceptional work groups such as the
British Transport Police are doing to tackle this issue, but
more needs to be done.
That’s why this funding is so important – it will help us
identify ways in which technology can detect concealed knives,
helping us keep people safe on our railways.
As part of the Serious Violence
Strategy, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
(Dstl) and the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), were
tasked by the Home Office find new ways to tackle concealed
steel-bladed knives.
Through a Home Office competition run by Dstl through DASA, which
sought input from industry and academia, 6 proposals passed the
rigorous testing process. Now, Security Screening Technologies
Ltd, Iconal Technology Limited, Loughborough University, Xenint
Ltd, Thales UK, Advanced Nano Tech and Scientific Ltd are each
being funded a share of £463,665 by the government for 6 months
to deliver proof of concept. They will be asked to demonstrate
their findings this summer.
The focus is on technology that is safe, easy to operate,
unobtrusive and suitable for indoor and outdoor use, and the work
is being supported by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
If the projects perform to the desired level, the Home Office
will work closely with the police to assess how these products
could be used on the front line.
The announcement comes as the Prime Minister today (April 1)
hosts the Serious Youth Violence
summit in Downing Street, bringing together attendees from a
diverse range of backgrounds including law enforcement, health,
the voluntary sector and education, and young people with
experience living in communities impacted by serious violence.
Ahead of the summit, the government announced it is empowering
more officers to authorise enhanced stop
and search powers as part of continued action to tackle
knife crime.
Home Secretary is making it simpler for police
to use Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.
This empowers officers to stop and search anyone in a designated
area without needing reasonable grounds for suspicion if serious
violence is anticipated.
Last month, the government announced £100 million additional
funding to support areas most affected by serious violence,
boosting policing capacity and enabling the creation of new
multi-agency violence reduction units.
Alongside support for the police, the Home Office continues to
focus on early intervention as a key to securing sustainable
reductions in serious violence. It recently appointed the
charitable foundation Impetus to manage its £200 million Youth
Endowment Fund, as a major part of ensuring that more young
people are not sucked into a life of crime and violence.
