NATO Summit discusses terahertz

Terahertz technology takes fight to the terrorists
(My note- it's obvious these gentlemen are sorely behind the curve. The public doesn't want full body scans and it's not necessary. The advanced photonix T-4000 provides the answer using time-domain terahertz. Not harmful to humans and able to detect chemical signatures on any person that carries or attempts to hide explosive or harmful devices).

26 Jan 10

Delegates at a NATO-organised Summit chaired by a Sheffield Hallam University academic have discussed the science behind full body scanners as airports begin to install them in the fight against terrorism.

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By
Brian Sims
The Summit took place in Turkey, with much of the discussion focusing on the very latest Terahertz (THz) radiation technology. THz devices – such as quantum cascade lasers – are the main candidates to deliver high-power THz radiation for full-body scanners.

This has emerged as the most high-tech weapon available to fight terrorist activity at airports around the world, although the concept of full-body scanners is not itself immune from controversy.

An explosive or something harmless?
Chairing the NATO Summit was Professor Mauro Pereira from the Materials and Engineering Research Institute (MERI) at Sheffield Hallam University.

“Terahertz is the radiation that can scan people without harming them, while providing highly defined images and discriminating those images to identify objects,” explained Pereira. “Current scanners can detect hidden objects, but cannot fully tell if the material is an explosive or something completely harmless.”

Pereira went on to state: “Novel and rapid methods of detection can be created with devices that operate in these spectral ranges, allowing scanning for weapons and the detection of hidden explosives.”

At the MERI, Pereira and his colleagues examine microscopic mechanisms and the theory behind semi-conductor materials and optics that will allow the technology to develop further.

“The NATO Conference built the basis for a wider collaboration between researchers and academics in the area of advanced photonic research for defence against terrorism,” added the academic.

New security measures in the UK
Full-body scanners are set for imminent introduced at several airports in the wake of the well-publicised attempted act of terrorism on a commercial aircraft from Amsterdam to Detroit during the Festive Season.

University College London graduate Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to ignite explosives concealed in his underwear as Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam made its final descent into Detroit on Christmas Day. As a result, Prime Minister Gordon Brown ordered a full review of security measures at UK airports.

A raft of new airport security measures were duly announced earlier this month by Home Secretary Alan Johnson. He told the House of Commons that closer behavioural analyses of passengers passing through UK airports would now be taking place, with equipment aimed at detecting any trace of explosives installed at each and every British airport before year end.

In terms of how many full-body scanners will be introduced, the Home Secretary has stressed that he’s presently in discussion with the major airlines to elicit their views on where the scanners ought to be deployed and in what numbers.

Air passengers are already well used to being searched by hand, and having their baggage tested for traces of explosive materials, but a Home Office missive is now being sent to all airports directing security managers to step up the number of passengers who are searched in this way.

Code of Practice to be drafted
The Home Secretary told the House of Commons: “It’s clear that no single security measure will be enough to defeat inventive and determined terrorists. There’s no single technology that can guarantee 100% effectiveness against their attacks.”

Rather, it appears the Government is looking at several measures that, in tandem, will stop those who would try to do innocent people harm.

In addition to the introduction of more security search dogs, a defined Code of Practice is being drafted for the use of body scanners. According to Johnson, the Government is considering “all of the issues involved” and “mindful of civil liberty concerns”. Johnson recognises that identity-based profiling “has its limitations”, but has also been quick to point out the Government’s overriding duty to “protect peoples’ lives and liberty”.

The Prime Minister has unveiled a new ‘No-Fly List’ and a ‘Watch List’ to be drawn up from the UK Border Agency’s existing database of terrorism suspects, foreign criminals and known illegal immigrants. The new lists are to be ably supported by the swifter implementation of the much-talked about electronic borders scheme, allowing pre-flight checks on all passengers travelling to Britain.

Early indications suggest that the ‘No-Fly List’ will encompass the names of people banned from flying to and from the British Isles, while the somewhat longer second list will include the details of so-called ‘lower risk individuals’. People on this list are to be subjected to special screening before they can board an aircraft bound for Britain.

Government schedules dictate that all major airports will be covered by the Home Office’s £1.2 million e-borders initiative before the end of 2010. As a result of this programme, all passengers must yield detailed personal information when buying their tickets to travel. In this way, those details can be checked against the ‘Watch List’ before any trip is verified.

Full-body scanners cause controversy
As stated, the proposed introduction of full-body scanners at UK airports has courted much controversy.

Bosses at Heathrow Airport conducted a four-year trial using the systems until, in 2008, the decision was taken not to adopt the technology on the basis that it wasn’t physically possible to screen large numbers of travellers.

Only last week, Trevor Phillips – head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission – wrote to the Home Secretary warning that such devices could breach privacy rules outlined in the Human Rights Act.

Phillips has also suggested that the adoption of profiling techniques to single out Asians and Muslims, for example, for scanning at airports could breach race and religious discrimination laws brought in by Johnson’s own Labour Party.

Shami Chakrabarti – the often-outspoken director of Liberty – has also voiced her opinions on the matter.

“It’s incredibly important that any security regime should meet tests of efficacy, proportionality and equal treatment,” said the Liberty leader. “There may well be some who want to see red and green passenger channels replaced with black and white ones. However, a number of white convert bombers all over the world demonstrate that such an approach offends common sense as well as common decency.”