Police Toy With Less Lethal Weapons
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), part of the U.S. Justice Department, is funding research for three non-lethal devices meant for use by law enforcement officers to control unruly suspects and crowds.
The first device is under development by Raytheon and is based on the company’s Active Denial System weapon already used by U.S. marines. The military version involves a 95-gigahertz microwave beam used to heat people’s skin at a range of 600 meters in order to cause pain but not damage. The law enforcement version is likely to have a shorter range and use less power due to its portable nature.
The second device, known as “the first man-portable heat compliance weapon of its kind,” is under development by the Air Force Research Laboratory.
The third device, under development by Sterling Photonics, is similar to the Pulsed Energy Projectile system used by U.S. marines. The military device involves a chemical laser that produces a “plasma flash bang” upon impact that disorients the victim. The law enforcement device is likely to be powered with electricity and easily portable.
No public information is currently available on the effectiveness of these products, with all three projects expected to end in September 2005.
University of Bradford’s Bradford Non-Lethal Weapons Research Project researcher Neil Davison believes more transparency is required in order for the NIJ to avoid suspicion and allegations that the new products will be just as unsafe and abused as the non-lethal Taser devices.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the New Scientist (04/30/05); Hambling, David .
