Annex E
RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
People screening
A major trial at Heathrow Airport provided successful
results to the extent that TRANSEC approved the method as an alternative
way of screening people, bringing benefits in terms of security
and passenger facilitation.
X-ray screener competency
TRANSEC has made further advances in improving
the standards of x-ray screening. A new version of the national
test has been developed and introduced. This version has improved
robustness and also raised the standard required. Further developments
have taken place in the application of threat image projection
(TIP)—a system for improving screener alertness. The UK
requirements have been adopted by ECAC as the European standard.
Software which analyses the TIP data on individual
screeners has been distributed to users. The process allows TRANSEC
to monitor their performance and allow comparisons to be made
between other UK airports.
Staff management
The supervisors of security staff have an important
role to play in quality control. TRANSEC funded a comprehensive
study into best practice, one output being a comprehensive guidance
booklet. This new knowledge will be used to fashion a validation
trial.
Technology evaluation
TRANSEC has continued to evaluate commercial
security equipment in the areas of hold baggage screening, metal
detection and explosive trace detection. The work on baggage systems
has led to the setting of enhanced UK standards and, together
with the work on metal detectors, has made an important contribution
to the development of EU standards.
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