Modern Technologies in the Service of Public Security

• NCJ Number: 237750
• Journal: Internal Security Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: 2010 Pages: 121-128
• Author(s): Tadeusz Szczurek
• Date Published: 2010
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: Poland

Annotation

This article discusses the various types of modern technology used by police departments to improve public security.

Abstract

The article studies modern technology solutions in armament systems concerning their use by the police, border guard and other services of social security. It presents new possibilities of surveillance conduct using sensors of various frequencies. It mainly focuses on the use of terahertz wave band in devices detecting dangerous objects. It also shows that the police can widely use infrared rays, esp. while conducting surveillance, searching for people on land and under the water, searching for drugs and explosives. Apart from thermo-detectors used at present introduction of optical detectors is suggested. First of all, it concerns photon detectors made of semi-conductive materials as they are defined by a higher sensibility and response reaction than thermo-detectors. Nowadays they are developing various detectors in the shape of matrix detectors used in the thermo-imaging systems with mechanic scanning as well as electronic scanning which is applied in the production of observation devices with digital correction of thermo-vision. One of the new technologies employed by the police is acoustic sensors that can be used to detect and identify objects, define the type of weapons and missiles, recognize the speech and identify speakers. Scientists analyze and develop different acoustic techniques, mainly sensory techniques which use volumetric and surface sound waves propagating in diverse environments. Acoustic sensors are indispensable in optical and radio detection of parameter changes in opaque environment. Besides, the author pays attention to possibilities to use of lasers to detect dangerous substances at far distances. He also analyzes the increasing importance of "non-lethal weapons" in the police and other services, e.g. use of acoustic and electromagnetic devices. (Published Abstract)