Searching for prohibited items in mental-health hospitals: A randomised controlled trial of two metal-detecting technologies

Abstract

Weapons and other items with potential to cause harm are usually prohibited in mental-health hospitals and other psychiatric facilities. Detecting such prohibited items (PIs) can be problematic, particularly if concealed, and metal detectors are commonly used to search for such items. Our study compared two types of metal detection: continuous wave detection (CWD) by hand-held metal detector (HHMD) and magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) by a static pole device. In the study, real and dummy PIs were hidden on test subjects and in a simulated body cavity. The results showed MAD to be significantly superior to CWD in detecting small concealed PIs containing ferrous metal. The MAD pole found 100% of the real PIs on the test subjects and in the simulated body cavity. The CWD HHMD found only 5.2% of the real PIs, and these were limited to those on the test subjects, as it detected none in the simulated body cavity. In addition, the time taken to search by MAD pole was shorter than time taken to search by CWD HHMD.

Utilization and effects of security technologies in mental health: A scoping review

“…Furthermore, among six papers related to devices categorized as other technologies, two (33.5%) provided prevalence information (Cowman & Bowers, 2009; Marhoon et al, 2019), while the other four (66.5%) underlined safety advantages (Barrera et al, 2020; Cheng et al, 2013; Mills et al, 2020; Tully et al, 2015). Finally, between two studies that involved metal detectors, one provided only information about their availability (Gale et al, 2002), and the other showed positive results on safety (Laidlaw et al, 2017).…”

“…Finally, Laidlaw et al (2017) performed a randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of fixed and portable metal detectors (MDs) in identifying hidden items during patient search procedures. The researchers demonstrated the greatest ability of the fixed versus the portable MD to locate hidden items on two subjects and a simulated body cavity.…”

Managing acute disturbance in the context of COVID-19

“…6.10. Magnetic anomaly detection scanners have proved effective in detecting a range of restrictive items ) 13 and do not require any contact between the person being searched and the operator. Searches can be undertaken at a distance which where possible may reduce the risk of infection.…”