Smart shields to revolutionise riot policing
Smart riot shields that feature an optical illusion to make them appear see-through one-way could allow police to hide their numbers during potentially violent clashes. The design by Nottingham Trent University undergraduate Ben Palmer may help diffuse or prevent disorders as protestors would have little or no knowledge of who they face.
Smart riot shields that feature an optical illusion to make them appear see-through one-way could allow police to hide their numbers during potentially violent clashes. The design by Nottingham Trent University undergraduate Ben Palmer may help diffuse or prevent disorders as protestors would have little or no knowledge of who they face.
The 21-year-old who is studying BA Product Design interviewed rioters and police to help shape his product.
Riot police have a difficult job to do, and can regularly face very intense situations, said Mr Palmer, who is studying at the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment.
So I wanted to use my degree to explore how smart technology could be used to enhance the tools they have at their disposal.
By interviewing rioters, it became very clear that police could gain a psychological advantage if their shields incorporated one-way privacy.
Not only would it allow police to mask their numbers, but rioters wouldnt know who or what they were facing.
Made from polycarbonate a light but strong, heat-resistant plastic the long shields are covered in a film of perforated vinyl that prevents protestors from looking in, but allows officers to look out.
Perforated vinyl works by way of an optical illusion featuring a pattern of tiny holes. The outside of the vinyl is light-coloured and appears opaque as a persons eyes naturally focus on the bright surface, rather than on the holes and the darker shade images behind.
By contrast, the inside of the vinyl is dark, which leads the eye to focus on the light and motion on the other side of the shield.
Mr Palmer, from Wymondham in Norfolk and who has ambitions to be a police officer, watched riot police training sessions to understand how the shields were used and interviewed officers.
His long shields can lock together to create an impermeable wall. Missiles thrown over the top can be deflected when other long shields are locked into place overhead.
He has also designed a shield for animal control, a round shield and an intermediate length shield.
James Dale, principal lecturer in product design at Nottingham Trent University, said: Ben has shown how existing smart technology can be applied to help police officers who can face very impassioned situations.
Its a great example of how modern design can used to help support those on the front line in face of potentially difficult situations.
PC Simon Clarke, of the Public Order and Officer Safety Training department at Nottinghamshire Police, said: Were always keen to welcome new and innovative thinking in the fight against crime. It was great for our officers to work with Ben and provide him with feedback on his design.
The designs were set to go on show during Nottingham Trent Universitys 2016 Art and Design Degree Show last week. The show is one of the largest collections of graduating art and design talent in the UK, with more than 1,300 works on public display.
