Last updated on April 28th, 2023 at 04:21 pm
Loughborough Police announced this week they installed a Cell Occupant and Occupancy Monitoring System (COMS) into their refurbished cells. This monitoring system features radar equipment capable of detection breathing trouble such as experienced by someone choking on their vomit after a night out or by a sleep apnoea patient.
InLoughborough.com reports how the police custody suit was expanded and upgraded, including this fancy new system which allows one police officer to monitor up to four people instead of having assume a one on one position. Four new cells have been built each fitted with radar transmitters that can detect whether the person in the cell is breathing and sound an alarm if it detects a problem. Inspector Clive Thorpe, from the Criminal Justice Unit, said;
“The life signs monitoring system is projected to pay for itself within a year because it will save officer time and free up resources to be used elsewhere.”
Cosatt is the company behind the development of this system. You can read about the technology and principles here. Up to 40 cells can be monitored with one PC and it can be integrated with CCTV and other database systems. Each cell has to be treated to not leak microwaves so the detection system can work optimally. With the WiFi and mobile phone radiation controversy of recent years, I wonder how safe this is in itself. It’s a shame they don’t have specific information on how breathing cessation is detected.
The Leicestershire Constabulary has more information on their website here.
You can land yourself a hi-tech overnight stay from Monday onwards so if you’re curious, you know what to do where… 😉