Hi-tech scanners for ports

[bongme]

hi

The back of a lorry is ideal hiding place for asylum seekers

Monday, 5 May, 2003

A hi-tech way of spotting illegal immigrants trying to get into the UK has been developed.

The detection system, known as Pandora, works by showing the presence of people hiding in vehicles as they are driven through it.

It has been developed at Siemens's research labs at Roke Manor in Hampshire and is expected to start being used in the French port of Calais in two months' time.

Figures show that 86,000 people sought asylum in the UK in 2002 and the Home Office is keen to tackle the widespread abuse of the asylum system.

Passive aid

Pandora scans vehicles such as lorries where asylum seekers are often concealed.

The side of the lorry is scanned as it drives through the device and a colour or black and white image similar to that of an airport X-ray scanner is then displayed to the operator.

Security staff can be alerted if the image proves suspicious.

There is no disruption to the traffic as the device can scan vehicles as they pass through at normal speed.

"We have combined our expertise in advanced software design, mechanical and electronic engineering to develop this passive detection system in a short timescale," said Martin Harman, senior project manager at Roke Manor Research.

It is anticipated that the technology could be deployed for uses other than border control.

It could also prove useful as a security device for monitoring trucks arriving at big events such as the Olympic Games or for screening deliveries to sensitive locations such as military bases or government buildings.

Bongme