FSM
Features
Continued from page 13 Closing a critical security gap
Fortunately, significant progress has been made in delivering security screening technology to cater for high footfall scenarios including football stadiums. For over a decade, organisations such as NATO and the US Department of Defence have invested time, effort and resources into developing technologies that help mitigate terrorist threats to crowded places. The focus has been firmly on mass casualty threats with the high lethality of these threats driving priorities. One of the technologies that emerged and benefitted from this investment is Apstec’s Human Security Radar (HSR). Created by specialists in the fields of radio
physics, electronics and software engineering, HSR has been developed in conjunction with leading authorities and ‘end users’ in
security and counter-terrorism. Essentially, HSR is a mass screening device, with one portal able to screen up to 10,000 people per hour. Highly efficient and nondisruptive to the people flow, the fully automatic system screens for mass casualty threats in real time and can detect improvised explosive devices concealed on the body or in body worn bags, and firearms wherever they are carried. It leverages centimeter wave technology, meaning it can discriminate explosives from benign materials, with a high degree of accu- racy. HSR is uniquely well suited to mitigating the highest risks in and around the stadium. For stadium owners, the employment of high throughput screening technology provides greater assurance that the most significant threats are displaced from areas immediately outside as well as inside of the venue. Not only could this approach provide a more
comprehensive search regime but does so more cost effectively at the same time. Of course, to do this requires a flexible mind set, an emphasis on proportionality and deter- rence regimes, and, ultimately, some limited acceptance of risk.
A game changing solution
There is not a single technology that can mitigate the full spectrum of threats to sporting venues and spectators. However, high footfall security screening technology will play a very important role in reducing the vulnerability of crowded places. The risk that is posed to football fans by terrorism is well understood. Whilst considerable effort has gone into implementing robust security regimes at venues, it would be good to take a fresh look at emerging opportunities and new approaches to mitigating this risk.
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