Police to use sound cannons for G20 security
Posted May 27, 2010 12:59 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Police call them a communication tool because they can be hand held and used as loud speakers to control large crowds, but any protesters who get out of hand at the upcoming G20 summit may reportedly find out the “sound cannons” can do a whole lot more than communicate.
The sound cannons can emit an ear piercing high frequency that can cause pain to people and, if used incorrectly, can cause permanent hearing damage.
Three of the cannons are hand held, one is mounted, and will emit a beam of sound in a specific direction.
“It will allow our officers to speak to the crowd over and above chanting, yelling, screaming _ noise that is most commonly part of protests,” said Const. Wendy Drummond, spokeswoman for Toronto police.
The sound cannons were developed for the U.S. Navy by Vancouver-based Current Corp, but police have used them in the past for crowd-control.
Pittsburgh police used them successfully during the G20 in 2009 and riotous protesters marching in Toronto at the G20 summit in June may be greeted with the same ear-splitting sounds if police feel they need to quelling unruly crowds.
Toronto police bought the devices as part of the $1-billion security effort Canadian authorities are mounting to try to ensure the G8 and G20 summits run smoothly.
The Council of Canadians said Wednesday it would give away earplugs during the G20 to protect people from permanent hearing loss.
