The terahertz (THz) frequency region within the electromagnetic spectrum, covers a frequency range of about one hundred times that currently occupied by all radio, television, cellular radio, Wi-Fi, radar and other users and has proven and potential applications ranging from molecular spectroscopy through to communications, high resolution imaging (e.g. in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors) and security screening. Yet, the underpinning technology for the generation and detection of radiation in this spectral range remains severely limited, being based principally on Ti:sapphire (femtosecond) pulsed laser and photoconductive detector technology, the THz equivalent of the spark transmitter and coherer receiver for radio signals. The THz frequency range therefore does not benefit from the coherent techniques routinely used at microwave/optical frequencies. Our programme grant will address this. We have recently demonstrated optical communications technology-based techniques for the generation of high spectral purity continuous wave THz signals at UCL, together with state-of-the-art THz quantum cascade laser (QCL) technology at Cambridge/Leeds. We will bring together these internationally-leading researchers to create coherent systems across the entire THz spectrum. These will be exploited both for fundamental science (e.g. the study of nanostructured and mesoscopic electron systems) and for applications including short-range high-data-rate wireless communications, information processing, materials detection and high resolution imaging in three dimensions.

This project focuses on the online dating romance scam. The scam is typically conducted via online dating sites and social networking sites. Scammers lure their victims by creating a profile with a stolen photograph of a highly attractive person. At a very early stage in the relationship the scammer declares their love for the victim and requests that their relationship move from the dating site to Instant Messenger, stating that they want an exclusive relationship with the victim. Phone calls might also be made. The scam often begins with requests for gifts or small amounts of money. Following this the scammer will accelerate their demands for larger amounts of money (sometimes this involves other characters being brought into the narrative, to make the scam appear more plausible and to find new ways to demand more money). This scam can also lead to persuading the victim to visit an African country where they might be kidnapped. The scam ends only when the victim learns and finally accepts they have been scammed. When victims report this crime the local police are often unsure of how to deal with this it and do not comprehend the trauma the victim is enduring. To date, victims have not been treated differently to any other fraud case - the legal system does not recognise the stress they experience over and above that of financial loss. Given the lack of understanding of the trauma endured by these victims, there is some uncertainty as to how to treat victims of this crime. There is an urgent need to address this problem. This project will draw on findings from work supported by an ESRC grant that has been investigating: the typology of victims, the persuasive techniques used by the scammers, and the psychological impact this crime has on victims. Specifically, the three objectives of the current proposed project are to: 1. improve the quality of care for victims of the online romance scam. 2. decrease the likelihood of re-victimisation. 3. improve current policing practice with regards to dealing with victims of the online romance scam. These objectives will be achieve through the development and evaluation of two toolkits: 1. to be used by UK police when dealing with romance scam victims. 2. on how to treat these victims as intimidated witnesses in subsequent prosecutions Work package 1 will create and evaluate a toolkit that will provide information (in a multi-media format) on how to best notify victims, take statements, advise victims to act if they are contacted again, and to ensure that victims are provided with appropriate support. Work package 2 will develop a tool kit that will provide information on how to treat witnesses of the online dating romance scam. Again, an evaluation of this toolkit will be made which will involve interviewing police officers that have used the kit as well as interviewing witnesses. The beneficiaries of the project include: 1. Victims of the online romance scam 2. Our partners: SOCA, NPIA 3. ACPO 4. UK police forces 5. Anyone in the UK who has been affected by this crime (including victims and their families, friends) 6. Government and communication regulators and policy makers. 7. International partners who might consider adopting the innovative practices implemented in this project 8. Victim Support, psychologists, counsellors and other health professionals would benefit from learning more about the psychological effect such scams have on an individual. We intend to disseminate the results via the following routes: - at a seminar (with invited parties in addition to our partners, such as police, Victim Support and counsellors), - to the International Mass Marketing Fraud Working Group - at policing conferences both in the UK and internationally - direct delivery of toolkits to the police via NPIA - in police and counselling professional publications - in academic publications - report to the ESRC - to the media - web page

The global Covid-19 pandemic has presented new opportunities for those looking to commit fraud, capitalising on new vulnerabilities (of systems, organisations, and members of the population), propelled by sophisticated cyber-enabled schemes. There has been an increase in fraud during the pandemic, as well as an increase in its complexity, which places it front-forward as a criminal law issue which requires advanced analysis. For example, on 7 May 2020, Action Fraud reported that a total of £2,996,252 has been lost by 1467 victims of coronavirus-related scams. 6069 reports of coronavirus-related phishing e-mails were received. Penalising fraud, especially against vulnerable members of the population such as older persons, has been held to be an 'immediate' charging priority for the Crown Prosecution Service. A number of public bodies--the National Crime Agency, the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), the Cabinet Office--have current interests in fraud research during the time of Covid-19. This research project has two aims. First, it will map the landscape of how fraudulent conduct is changing during the pandemic. This will be achieved in collaboration with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and a series of roundtable discussions with fraud policy-makers and practitioners. Secondly, by critically appraising semi-structured interviews with leading fraud practitioners, it will provide a normative framework for how emerging dishonest conduct ought to be charged and prosecuted at this time. The project will lead to two major academic articles on fraud during a pandemic (a theory piece and a governance piece), and a policy paper on fraud governance.

Current cargo screening systems are sub-optimal because they are based on historic layouts, for instance luggage will go through fixed tiered systems: First all luggage will go through detector A, if it fails to pass, then it will go through detector B and if it fails again through detector C. Moreover, we do not understand the performance of current systems as no baseline performance data is available, i.e. it is unclear whether current systems perform better than random or not. Thus even if an improvement was proposed, it would be difficult to measure its impact if any.We are proposing to design a plug and play software tool (cargo screening system simulator) that will map the right technology to the right commodity / threat combination and thus* Identify gaps in a current sensor system set-up / what new technology do we need?* Allow for proper evaluation of new sensor technology / is it value for money?* Optimise given resources / get highest throughput / detection for fixed resources.Additionally, as the project is interested in the whole system and allows for the evaluation of new technologies, it is an enabling project for all other sandpit projects. We will be able to evaluate new sensor technologies proposed in specific scenarios to establish practical cost / benefits. To achieve this, we propose to run a follow on network alongside the project.

Many of London's most popular tourist landmarks are being surrounded by concrete after a CIA-MI5 summit called for special protection zones to guard against a spectacular al-Qaeda terrorist attack in Britain. Concrete barriers were put up in summer 2004 around the Houses of Parliament to prevent a suicide attack by car or lorry bombers. However, radical security changes to these measures to protect the Palace of Westminster from terror attacks are being recommended by MI5. It is feared that the current concrete barriers could be dangerous if blown up, i.e. disintegrate and create shrapnel that will injure anyone behind the barrier. There are also concerns that a steel barrier could also disintegrate and provide shrapnel if not sufficiently thick and energy absorbing. The current research proposal will look at a novel ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC), which could be used to prefabricate relatively light-weight panels, resistant both to high-speed impact (projectile or vehicle)and/or explosion from a terrorist attack.UHPFRC can be produced from a concrete mix containing no coarse aggregate (i.e. stones). A high cement content and a special reactive silica sand, together with a very low water content and water-reducing and other admixtures, are used to produce concrete with a very high compressive strength, up to 5-7 times as strong as normal concrete. The addition of a large volume (2-4%) of short, fine steel fibres produces a concrete which is easy to produce and use and which has a very high tensile strength and toughness. This concrete can be made between 30-60 times as strong in tension as normal concrete and has a very high ductility.An explosion which occurs very close to a conventional reinforced concrete panel will send shock waves through a localised region of the panel and can cause spalling fragments to come flying from the back face, injuring anyone in the vicinity. An explosion which occurs further away will cause a more widespread loading on the panel, which could cause a much larger failure in bending or shear.The proposed project at Liverpool University will investigate different mix designs for UHPFRC to achieve the maximum practical strength in tension and compression, consistent with a high toughness and ductility. Panels made from UHPFRC will be tested in the laboratory under both high-speed localised loading and overall pressure loading to simulate the effect of both a nearby and far away explosion. Results from these tests will be used as input to create a computer model that can be used to predict the behaviour of UHPFRC panels under real explosion loadings.High explosion tests will be carried out on small-scale panels at the Sheffield University explosion laboratory in Buxton to validate the accuracy of the computer modelling. At the end of the project a limited number of full-scale panels will be tested at the military explosion laboratory in Spadeadam, Cumbria as a final validation of the predictive modelling.Parallel research is already in progress at two adjacent universities in Melbourne, Australia, but both projects are still at an early stage of development. Collaborative links will be set up to exchange results between these two universities and the two UK universities and a study visit is planned to discuss the progress of all three projects and to compare results.