Manchester Police Deploy Advanced Security Scanners in Custody Suite
The high-resolution millimeter wave technology aims to reduce strip searches and improve detainee privacy.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Jun 15, 2026
Greater Manchester Police have introduced a new high-resolution security scanner at the Longsight Custody Suite to modernize search procedures and enhance detainee dignity.
The installation makes Longsight the first custody facility in England to utilize the advanced millimeter wave screening system. Local authorities aim to improve operational efficiency, strengthen safety protocols and reduce the necessity of invasive strip searches, with a specific focus on improving the treatment of women and girls in custody.
The technology serves as an additional screening layer to identify concealed contraband, including weapons, narcotics, liquids and powders hidden beneath clothing. The contactless scanning process requires only a few seconds to complete.
To protect the privacy of individuals, the system does not produce anatomical images. Instead, the automated analysis software detects anomalies and displays potential threats on a standardized digital avatar. The harmless millimeter waves pass through clothing fabric but reflect off human skin, allowing the system to differentiate between harmless everyday objects like buttons or zippers and actual security threats.
By pinpointing the exact location of hidden items, custody staff can conduct highly targeted examinations. Law enforcement officials expect the system to mitigate the need for intrusive physical searches while maintaining a secure environment for both personnel and detainees.