Detection: Scanning and ‘sniffing’ technologies

Abstract

Even the best efforts of counter-terrorism specialists sometimes come to naught when an individual or a group with ill intent slips through the net for one reason or another. Hence, in this chapter I look at yet another ‘silver bullet’ in the shape of technology that enables us to see beneath the layer of clothing, or beneath the canvass of a backpack, in order to decide whether there is a threat or not – especially in the vicinity of access points of locations where many people congregate, thus offering an easy-to-attack soft target. The technologies in question are metal detectors, full-body scanners, explosives detection systems, and explosives trace detectors. I also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various systems, in particular highlighting the controversies around the first generation of full-body scanners.