Are metal detectors necessary?

AlistairW · Post by **AlistairW** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:56 am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west ... 926246.stm

Do we really need them at train stations? Is it a big enough concern and who's paying for it all? I hope it's not the now inconvenienced regular traveller; surely this kind of thing is only going to make people ponder if train travel is safe.

I was just wondering what everyone else's opinions were, I personally think its a huge waste of what resources the railways have. Those officers could be re-deployed around the station or on trains, or even better, catching stone throwers and vandals...

jporter · Post by **jporter** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:02 pm

At the end of the day...yes i suppose. It is only like having them on aeroplanes! Bet the airline fans are thinking the same thing!

Post by **martinhodgson** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:35 pm

They are neccesary, but I think purely in a 'spot check' fashion, rather than permanent deployments.

JSReeves86 · Post by **JSReeves86** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:12 pm

i personaly think that if you have nothing to hide then what is the problem, yes i know they pick up on all sorts of things that are not knifes, bombs etc (i have been stopped coz my belt made the machine go nuts) but other than that i would be happy having them there safe in the knowledge that there isnt even a chance however small it is that something may happen.

JR

kilkus · Post by **kilkus** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 6:15 pm

I personally think it's a stupid idea... Firstly, we, the general public will take the burden with higher taxes and higher ticket prices so these detectors can be installed... I was just thinking though, are they planning to install these on every station or just major ones such as Waterloo etc?

If this gets the go ahead then I don't see the Government from trying to take this even further... Metal dectectors before you board a bus, that sort of thing... By installing these metal detectors, we are in a sense, allowing the terrorists to win. We are becoming more frightened and more paranoid, especially as all we see on the TV is how many people have died in Iraq today from a suicide bomber. If you have this constantly drilled into your head, then you will become slightly concerned as to whether this will happen in your country. It did here in London, but that wasn't nearly as bad as the hundreds of Iraqis dying everyday due to suicide bombers.

Remember though, a terrorist will never give up on his mission. If a terrorist has been brain washed into believeing that by killing hundreds of innocent people, it will secure him a place in heaven, then these metal detectors will not stop them. They will find other ways...

phat2003uk · Post by **phat2003uk** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:27 pm

A terroist will just go to the station which doesn't have them. Attacks obviously take a load of planning, I don't think they would oversee something like metal detectors!

Thrashin · Post by **Thrashin** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:33 pm

Whilst good for detecting weapons, these scanners will be useless if (god forbid) there was another round of suicide bombings. Sure, they would find the bomb, but what's the bomber going to do when asked to open his bag? He's going to detonate the contents.

nwallace · Post by **nwallace** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:49 pm

Strangely, up here they are being pluged as a way fo detecting knife carriers. Knife carrying being quite a big problem in Scotland.

chuxn2005 · Post by **chuxn2005** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:08 am

Yes.
What's the problem with things that are improving are safety?

250787 · Post by **250787** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:09 am

If you had actually read the article the scanners in Birmingham are being used to check for knifes not bombs

metromuppet · Post by **metromuppet** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:10 am

At the end of the day, its a step to show they are trying to improve security. Anything they do people will find falts in, but you can't be perfect, trying things out will help as time goes on, it will help pin point the falts, and improve on them. You can not stop everyone, but maybe over time, they will find further ways to help stop people, and not just by their skin, clothes or attitude.

A while ago people where saying we need security at train stations, not just airports. Well it's here now, and it will improve during time, it's just a case of when. It could be to late by then, but at least things have started.

buffy500 · Post by **buffy500** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 10:46 am

There is a MUCH higher chance of a train traveller having to deal with a knife than a bomb.
So I'd rather we spent time trying to stop thugs if knives than much else. Thats the biggest risk.

danielw2599 · Post by **danielw2599** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:47 am

Is it really worth bringing this subject up agian??? It was discussed a few months ago on this forum and got a little heated.

Daniel