New York City is set to introduce new technology to detect weapons in its subway system, according to an announcement made by Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban on Thursday. The pilot program is expected to begin in a few months, following a 90-day waiting period after the impact and use policy for electromagnetic weapons detection systems is published.
However, the Legal Aid Society has quickly responded to the announcement, criticizing the approach to public safety as “misguided, costly, and creating significant invasions of privacy.” They expressed concerns about the flawed nature of gun detection systems, citing that they often trigger false alarms which could potentially lead to dangerous situations.
In addition to efforts by New York state and local leaders, transit crime has seen a 4% increase compared to last year and an 8% increase compared to 14 years ago. To address this issue, Gov. Kathy Hochul deployed the National Guard and State Police for random bag checks. Meanwhile, Commissioner Caban engaged with riders to hear their concerns. The NYPD also announced plans to assign 800 more officers for a week-long crackdown on subway fare evaders and is hiring more clinicians to aid people with mental illness.
Despite these measures being taken by the city’s authorities, there are still concerns about the effectiveness of new technology being introduced into the subway system. It remains unclear how well these measures will be received by commuters who are already struggling with overcrowding and delays on public transport.
Overall, it seems like New York City is taking proactive measures to enhance safety and security in its subway system amidst criticism from various groups about the potential impact and effectiveness of new weapons detection technology.