A novel Smart Metal Detector (SMD) to detect and locate real threats (e.g. handguns and knives) without interrupting the normal flow of public, thus leading to far more accurate, efficient and cost-effective security screening

Gun and knife crime are clearly severe global problems. In the last 10 years, the UK has unfortunately experienced **245,632 criminal offences** caused by knives or sharp instruments, of which **1,745 resulted in deaths.** Since 2002, handguns have caused 8,316 injuries and killed an estimated 330 people in the UK \[ONS\]. In the US alone, there have been 2,128 mass shootings since 2013\. **This translates to approximately one mass shooting per day** \[Gun Violence Archive\].

High footfall public areas such as stadia, arenas, shopping centres, transportation hubs and other places such as schools and nightclubs represent the ideal targets for mass killings, gun and knife crime. These places require **accurate and cost-effective high throughput screening** for concealed threats such as knives and guns without disrupting public flow.

However, existing Walk-Through Metal Detectors (WTMD) fail to accurately discriminate between threat items and harmless metallic objects such as watches, jewellery and mobile phones. To avoid constant false alarms, current WTMD require full divestment of possessions. **However, this significantly reduces throughput rates down to 360 - 600 people/hour, which disrupts public flow, increasing delays, queuing time and public frustration.** Increasing the number of screening lanes increases labour costs, which is prohibitively expensive and sometimes impractical for venue operators.

Thus, an unmet market need exists for an accurate and cost-effective detector, capable of discriminating threat vs. non-threat items in near real-time to reduce the need to fully divest and thus increase throughput.

**METRASENS,** a rapidly growing UK SME and **RAPISCAN,** a global provider of security screening products, are partnering with the **UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER,** experts in novel electromagnetic systems to develop a truly novel threat detection system.

Using a sophisticated array of transmit and receive coils, the **Smart Metal Detector** will identify and locate any threat object by measuring the signatures (Magnetic Polarisability Tensors) of all metal objects carried by each person and comparing those specific signatures to a library of previously classified objects. This reduces the need to fully divest as the detector will accurately distinguish between genuine threats and harmless metallic objects.

The Smart Metal Detector represents a paradigm shift in security screening technology, which will enable the accurate discrimination between items, particularly small items such as handguns and knives, without interfering with the public or interrupting public flow. With a vast number of urban soft targets worldwide, this project will significantly boost UK exports, increase safety and improve the visitor experience.