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UK abandons train and tube
scanners
John Oates
The
Register
Friday, June 27, 2008
The Brown government has changed its mind on placing security
scanners at every London tube station and mainline train stations
across the country, because the technology does not work and the
public would not tolerate the long delays such scanning would
require.
Despite doubts from London Underground after the original trials
Gordon Brown gave the scheme his support in November 2007. London
Underground questioned the practicality of the technology as well
as worrying that the queues created would provide a new target
for terrorists.
But today Tom Harris, Under-Secretary of State for Transport,
said the project would be abandoned because achieving airport-style
screening is not feasible using today's technology, and the public
would not stand for the delays caused and the invasion of privacy
involved.
(Article continues below)
As we pointed out at the time the "security theatre"
of such a scheme would be more important than any actual impact.
Instead of fixed scanners British Transport Police will continue
to use some mobile scanners and sniffer dogs.
Along with metal detectors the government also trialled millimetre
wave scanners at Paddington for the Heathrow Express. These scanners,
which can look through clothes, proved particularly unpopular
with young women. Those surveyed also doubted the technology could
be used without causing significant delays.
The trial also tested finger and clothes swabbers and bag sniffers.
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