Electronic surveillance

Government to enhance surveillance and use crowds as a 'sensor' to combat terrorism

A new Government competition is aiming to develop technologies that can keep people safe in crowded spaces.

One of the areas it will focus on is improving surveillance.

The Government believes that doing so will lead to potential threats in public places being spotted more quickly, and terrorists being caught before they’ve had the chance to act.

It will also concentrate on “behavioural science projects”.

The competition is being run by the Defence and Security Accelerator, which will hold an event in London on 27 July to provide further information.

It “seeks innovative or novel ideas to reduce the threat from the terrorist or malicious use of explosives and weapons in public spaces by using the crowd as a sensor,” the event page says.

“We envisage these capabilities and systems being used in crowded spaces, such as shopping centres, sports stadia and entertainment venues.”