Slashdot Mirror
Kenya Police: Our Fake Bomb Detectors Are Real
First time accepted submitter NF6X writes "Following the conviction of British conman James McCormick for selling fake bomb detectors which were in fact rebadged novelty golf ball divining rods, Nairobi police chief Benson Githinji stated to reporters that his department's fake bomb detectors are serviceable, and contributed towards a recent elimination of successful grenade attacks."
1) Give intern new shiny bomb detector
2) Send intern to walk around field for a while
3) Intern blows up
4) Success - bomb detected!
5) Added bonus - bomb removed!
Problem is confirmation bais is really easy to sell on people, so they honestly believe they did test it out and it worked.
Police work in any country is more about the appearance of security than actual security. It doesn't matter if it works. It only matters if it keeps people calm.
I'm not advocating this as the way it should be, just the way it is. We'd all actually be safer if we switched to evidence based policing. But then the government couldn't get away with shit like the War on Drug Users.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
About 2 years ago, when it came to light these bomb detectors were totally fake, the Thai government, who has bought a whole bunch of these came out insisting they were real and worked. My hunch is there are no "real" portable bomb detectors (other than a trained dog), and government middle managers under pressure to buy bomb detectors bought the only thing on the market claiming to do that regardless of whether it worked or not. They knew it didn't work, but the politicians further up the chain didn't care, they just wanted to be able to say they'd purchased bomb detectors and people would be safe. Alternately, maybe James was just really good at structuring kickbacks and bribes to the decision makers. Its not like Thailand, Iraq or Kenya's governments are corruption free.
Didn't you read the summary? It's a fake bomb detector. It won't detect real bombs.
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
They would be useful, even if fake, if terrorists thought them real and skipped attempts.
FBI and friends use lie detectors even though they are hogwash. I assume it's for the same reason: to scare people rather than use as a physical filter. Only the high-level strategists need know it doesn't work -- the plebe agents don't.
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
I don't think they have any usefulness... they don't have any electronic parts, batteries, or such - they use a paper card to "select" what you are searching for - it's basically a plastic handle with a metal antenna not connected to anything. It's a divining rod, and that's all. I think the buyers should have realized something was fishy when the manufacturer said they were powered by static electricity of the user "walking around."
You know, about 15 years ago I worked in an electronics store. For an April fools joke I once stuck an antenna and an LED in a mains plug and put it in the shop window as a "wireless extension cord - 29.95" I got quite a few interested customers for this item. From what I have picked up from the coverage of the trial these devices are about as sophisticated as my five minute handywork.
I can build one and sell it to you for an inflation adjusted price. You could draw the conclusion from my post that I'm selling you a bunch of junk, but have you tested it? No.
Come to think of it, your post reminds me of the poor sods coming in for a 555 timer IC a 9V battery clip and a couple of passive components, convinced that they could build a cancer defeating device described in some quack book. No use in arguing with them but I felt sad after they'd gone, and bad for taking their money.
Problem is confirmation bais is really easy to sell on people, so they honestly believe they did test it out and it worked.
You are only saying that because you want people to believe in confirmation bias.
I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
STOP REPLYING TO THESE. The only reason I can see them is because you reply and then get modded up which brings the entire post into my view.
So true. Mod parent up!