US police developing infrared body scanner to detect guns in the street

A device that can detect whether a suspect is carrying a weapon without needing to frisk him is being developed by police.

Infrared rays will be used to scan a form of natural energy - like radiation - emitted from the body of someone concealing a gun on the street.

If something is obstructing the flow of that energy, such as a weapon, the gadget will show exactly where the object is on a suspect's body.

Gadget: Police are developing a device to see if a suspect is carrying a weapon. It senses radiation emitted from the body- and if an object is obstructing it

As a result, officers will get a digital outline of where the firearm is. The device could also be used to find suicide bomber vests, Newsday reported.

The New York Post reported that the device has been undergoing development for the past three years for the streets of New York City.

Plans: Commissioner Ray Kelly announced the gadget, developed with the defense department, on Tuesday

The device will be mounted on the top of NYPD vans and will shoot rays at a suspect or scan the streets for weapons.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said it currently only works at a short range – from around three to four feet away from a person.



'This can be done from a short range,' Kelly said. 'We want a distance of at least 25 meters.'

Kelly said the department is working with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop the device.

The gadget would mean the NYPD would no longer have to stop and frisk those suspected of carrying weapons - a practice which rocketed by 13 per cent last year.

Yet there are also concerns that the gadget could be an invasion of privacy as they show an outline of a suspect's body - similar to 'naked' body scanners used in airports.



It comes as the NYPD is set to develop a new range of futuristic technology to avoid fire between its own ranks.

Kelly asked his officers to brainstorm ideas following the death of Omar J. Edwards, 25, when he was shot while off duty last week.

Edwards had left work when he witnessed a burglary, drew his weapon and chased the suspect. Police responding to the call shot him dead.

One idea for the protective gadgets uses radio frequency tags to show officers where other cops are in the city.

Future: The NYPD is developing a new range of detection gadgets in response to the death of officer Omar J. Edwards, above, who was shot dead while off duty

Another involves tags that would work gun-to-gun and use an infrared sensor.