New York Police Department purchases Smiths advanced portable explosives detection equipment

Sabre 4000s enable NYPD to screen subway passengers for explosives quickly and non-intrusively

27 July 2006 - SMITHS Detection, part of the global engineering business Smiths Group, today announced that the New York Police Department (NYPD) has purchased and deployed Smiths hand-held explosives detectors on the New York City subway system.

The NYPD conducted a seven-month evaluation of various manufacturers' explosives detection equipment and selected Smiths Detection’s Sabre 4000 as its handheld detection unit along with desktop equipment, from other vendors which have been deployed across the subway system.

The NYPD has already started to use the Sabre 4000 explosive trace detection system for the random, non-intrusive screening of passengers and passenger belongings.

Smiths Detection has developed a portfolio of durable hand-held detection products that enable police officers, emergency responders, military and other security officials quickly and safely to screen people and assess threats.

The Sabre 4000 is ideal for screening passengers effectively in any setting. It is a versatile light-weight, hand-held detection system capable of accurately detecting and identifying explosives, chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals. When deployed, the NYPD will use the units’ explosives detection capabilities.

Stephen Phipson, Group Managing Director of Smiths Detection, said: “The NYPD’s initiative of placing advanced technology in the hands of police officers is further evidence of their commitment to making New York City one of the safest cities in the world.

“The portability, accuracy and versatility of the Sabre 4000 make it an excellent tool to help the NYPD keep subway passengers safe.”


Smiths Detection
Smiths Detection is one of four operating divisions of Smiths Group. Smiths Detection offers technologically advanced security solutions to detect and identify explosives, chemical and biological agents, weapons, and contraband, plus specialist applications for life sciences and food manufacturing industries. Employing trace detection technology together with Smiths-Heimann x-ray imaging, Smiths Detection provides security solutions for customers in homeland security and defense markets worldwide.