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UK police could get Ghostbusters-style backpack devices to halt ebike getaways (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Police officers in Britain could be armed with Ghostbusters-style devices that fire electromagnetic rays to shut down the engines of ebikes being used in a crime.

Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), said the weapon was in development and could be months away from being available, though it is expected to be longer than that.

He said it would be housed in a backpack, reminiscent of the equipment used in the Ghostbusters series of movies. It could tackle crime linked to newer vehicles such as electric bikes and electric scooters.

The device is being developed with the Defence Science and Technology Lab, which is overseen by the Ministry of Defence, alongside other technological innovations that British police are hoping to use. It would fire an electromagnetic pulse at a vehicle that an officer wants to stop because the rider is suspected of involvement in a crime.

The electromagnetic weapon works by tricking the engine into thinking it is overheating, which shuts down the engine and brings the vehicle to a stop. It requires a line of sight to work, Stephens said.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Why would an emp require line of sight? That's not how emp works, even if directional.

Also, this is dumb as shit. They are going to fuck up so many nearby electronic devices if this is used in any populated area. Might be fine out in the sticks.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I know the UK doesn't have a big sue culture, but I can not imagine this wouldn't result in lawsuits if somebody unrelated to the crime dies due to their pacemaker stopping

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Well… dead people don’t sue.
/s

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

And t1ds in 2024 often relly on phones to track blood sugar via continuous glucose monitoring devices.

The big thing that will increase lawsuits. Is the fact this is visible when used.

So anyone with a damaged device in range is likely to blame it even if it was safe and some how only effected the ebike.