| Many people are familiar with the metal detectors | | | | often regarded as intrusive and unnecessary. |
| used by hobbyists who search for buried | | | | You may see these metal detectors after |
| treasures on beaches, in parks, and in other areas | | | | someone in the security line has set off the |
| where metal objects may have been dropped | | | | walk-through detector, but handheld detectors are |
| over the years. There are many other uses for | | | | perhaps just as frequently used as an initial |
| them, however, many of which you may not be | | | | screening method, especially in situations when a |
| aware of. In addition to use in such varied | | | | strip search is not appropriate and a walk-through |
| industries as construction and hospitals, they are | | | | detector cannot be installed, such as at a |
| also vital to police work. | | | | temporary event. |
| Police may use ground metal detectors to find | | | | Recently, many police agencies across the world |
| buried or hidden weapons and other evidence. For | | | | have taken to the streets with handheld, |
| example, if a suspect leads police to the location | | | | wand-style metal detectors in areas where gun |
| of buried evidence, a metal detector can be used | | | | and knife violence has become prevalent. These |
| to find the evidence quickly without exerting the | | | | operations are often undertaken after police |
| effort to dig up the entire property. Many ground | | | | notice a rise in violence. Police officers with such |
| search detectors will even display the type of | | | | scanners may be stationed on specific streets or |
| object found, which can reduce the need for | | | | near a group of nightclubs, for example. Although |
| officers to waste time digging up the wrong | | | | stop and search methods have been criticized in |
| object. For this use, law enforcement agencies | | | | the past, in many cases they receive wide |
| often choose Garrett metal detectors, which are | | | | community support when the issue is handled |
| well known to operate in rough terrain. | | | | sensitively. |
| Handheld metal detectors, of course, are another | | | | This simple, easy-to-use and portable device is |
| type that is frequently used in a law enforcement | | | | often chosen by law enforcement and security |
| setting. Although many police stations, jails, and | | | | agencies as a direct replacement for other |
| other law enforcement buildings have built-in, | | | | methods of searching, whether for guns and |
| walk-through metal detectors, police often rely on | | | | other contraband on those walking into a secure |
| handheld devices, particularly when working | | | | area, or for a gun that has been discarded by the |
| security for a large event. Using such devices is | | | | side of a deserted road. Handheld detectors offer |
| often much faster than a pat down search, and is | | | | optimum sensitivity, with a large scan area in |
| often a necessary step after the walk-through | | | | which ferrous, non-ferrous and stainless steel |
| detector alerts security to the presence of a | | | | weapons and other metallic objects may be |
| hidden metal object. Handheld wands are often | | | | detected. Many police offers find metal detectors |
| seen as a compromise between walk-through | | | | to be an essential part of their law enforcement |
| detectors, which do not pinpoint the location of | | | | arsenal. |
| the contraband, and strip searches, which are | | | | |