Police digital blockers
Discussion
It's a monumentally stupid suggestion (not you OP - the people saying it) and only the most stupid make it. I see it on Facebook as I stupidly viewed a post by one of these idiots and now my entire feed keeps getting littered with this rubbish.
The Police have access to some surveillance and specialist tools. Things like listening equipment, covert cameras, under cover police, tapping into people's phones etc...
But seriously, the HUGE amount of justification needed for these is very hard to evidence. It's often reserved for organised crime groups, terrorists. When this happens, you MUST document who will be impacted, if even a single innocent bystander is impacted, then you must demonstrate wyh that is proportionate.
You can't just impact hundreds or widely roll this stuff out.
So my point here is that the Police using something like this (which I don't think they even have access to) is one thing... but to use it in an area of hundreds of people, and so loosely is just not even conceivable.
The Police have access to some surveillance and specialist tools. Things like listening equipment, covert cameras, under cover police, tapping into people's phones etc...
But seriously, the HUGE amount of justification needed for these is very hard to evidence. It's often reserved for organised crime groups, terrorists. When this happens, you MUST document who will be impacted, if even a single innocent bystander is impacted, then you must demonstrate wyh that is proportionate.
You can't just impact hundreds or widely roll this stuff out.
So my point here is that the Police using something like this (which I don't think they even have access to) is one thing... but to use it in an area of hundreds of people, and so loosely is just not even conceivable.
redrabbit29 said:
So my point here is that the Police using something like this (which I don't think they even have access to) is one thing... but to use it in an area of hundreds of people, and so loosely is just not even conceivable.
What about MTPAS then?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTPAS
Mr E said:
What does this mean? What is it alleged that this has done?
What signals, over what medium?
(Essentially, a pair of scissors is a digital signal blocker if it s applied to the correct fibre/cable.)
There was a photo of a silver box, with some antennas and fan grills that done the rounds a few days ago on FB, saying along the lines of, "police using this blocker at a coastal migrant protest "What signals, over what medium?
(Essentially, a pair of scissors is a digital signal blocker if it s applied to the correct fibre/cable.)
The orignal picture of the box was on a large area of tarmac somewhere in China ( I think )
Edit to add photos...
The false story
The original
Edited by FilH on Friday 9th October 16:27
If you want to stop the public using their phones, just change the access classes.
If you want to prevent WiFi you need to *swamp* the appropriate RF bands. Which will break most of modern society within range.
Looking at that box, antennas might be about right for WiFi.
If you want to prevent WiFi you need to *swamp* the appropriate RF bands. Which will break most of modern society within range.
Looking at that box, antennas might be about right for WiFi.
Edited by Mr E on Friday 9th October 19:23
Edited by Mr E on Friday 9th October 19:25
Mr Pointy said:
MTPAS would very rarely be used, and these days it has virtually disappeared as a useful tool. The rollout of Airwave for the emergency services reduced the need to activate MTPAS for 'regular' major incidents.MTPAS was activated during the London bombings in 2005 but it actually hampered the emergency response as many responders didn't have MTPAS registered SIM cards so they couldn't communicate because mobile networks were turned off (MTPAS) to 'help' responders utilise bandwidth.
So no, the police would not use this for a 'signal blocker' at Dover.
xx99xx said:
Mr Pointy said:
MTPAS would very rarely be used, and these days it has virtually disappeared as a useful tool. The rollout of Airwave for the emergency services reduced the need to activate MTPAS for 'regular' major incidents.MTPAS was activated during the London bombings in 2005 but it actually hampered the emergency response as many responders didn't have MTPAS registered SIM cards so they couldn't communicate because mobile networks were turned off (MTPAS) to 'help' responders utilise bandwidth.
So no, the police would not use this for a 'signal blocker' at Dover.
Many moons ago my dad had a mobile with the system before MTPAS - as he worked for the state in civil contingencies planning (everything from chemcial spills to nuclear accidents, etc)
Is it not more likely that if a whole load of people suddenly swamp an area the local infrastructure cannot cope with the sudden increase in demand? I've been in seaside towns in Cornwall in the peak summer and despite my phone showing signal its basically useless, local businesses are aware of it because it also impacts their card machines and a number have signs up advising this
Signal blockers and jammers are devices designed to intercept, block, or disrupt wireless frequencies, mobile networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS signals do exist, how effective they are I have no idea, probably short distances (<300m?).
Whether they were used on that day I have no idea.
Whether they were used on that day I have no idea.
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