Tackling knife crime in the UK – detecting steel-bladed knives
Wed, 07 Nov 2018 11:50:47 GMT
The Ministry of Defence, through the Defence and Security Accelerator, invites applications for its tackling knife crime in the UK – detecting steel-bladed knives challenge. This seeks proposals for innovative technologies and approaches that help reduce knife crime in the UK through the identification of people carrying steel-bladed knives.
The Home Office is interested in solutions that can identify people carrying, overtly or covertly, a wide variety of steel-bladed knives in public open spaces, including in crowds and uncontrolled areas where there is typically limited or no police or security presence. There is a requirement to detect these knives: on the person, typically in the presence of other commonly carried benign metallic items such as keys, phones, coins, belts and buckles, watches and jewellery; carried in bags for example, handbags and rucksacks, which may also contain a variety of other benign metallic and non metallic items. The focus is on steel-bladed knives with a blade length greater than 7.62 centimetres. Proposals must address at least one the following challenges:
- screening people at pre-existing pinch-points;
- screening freely moving people;
- screening of people’s behaviours in crowds;
- training.
Sole suppliers, including academic and industrial partners, as well as colloborative bids are eligible. All types of organisations as well as individuals overseas or in the UK may apply. There are no nationality restrictions.
The total budget for phase 1 proof-of-concept studies at technology readiness level 2 and above is worth up to £500,000, to fund multiple proposals. Additional funding may be available for further phases to develop the technology to a higher TRL depending on the outputs from phase 1.
Closing date 21 Nov 18
