LINEV Systems examines the persistent challenge of screening bags for large crowds safely and efficiently.

A new challenge for public safety

Major events and public spaces face the same dilemma: How to move thousands of people safely into secure areas while ensuring dangerous items don’t slip through.

Stadiums, arenas, museums and transport hubs all know the risks: Manual bag checks are slow, inconsistent and resource heavy.

Traditional X-ray systems require trained operators to interpret complex images, creating queues that are both frustrating and unsafe.

As one security director put it: “Queues aren’t just inconvenient; they’re unsafe. The real target is often the crowd before the checkpoint.”

It is this challenge that the LV Stream, developed by LINEV Systems UK, set out to solve.

Reimagining bag screening

The LV Stream is not an incremental upgrade.

It is a reimagining of what bag screening can be in the age of automation and artificial intelligence.

Visitors place their bags on the conveyor, walk through and continue on their way.

The system processes up to 1,400 bags per hour – a figure purposely designed after real site trials, reflecting natural walking speed – without requiring an operator to study images.

Instead, AI-powered dual-view X-ray technology analyses each bag instantly.

If a firearm, knife, potential IED or other prohibited item is detected, the bag is automatically diverted for secondary inspection.

The vast majority of visitors move through seamlessly.

For operators, this means the only decision left is simple: Which bag to search and which to ignore – no image interpretation, no guesswork, just focused intervention when required.

Born from real-world need

LINEV Systems has been at the forefront of X-ray innovation for more than three decades, from pioneering body scanners in the 1990s to advanced multi-energy vehicle and cargo systems today.

But high-footfall venues required a different approach.

Working with the O2 Arena in London and UK Government technical authorities, LINEV tested LV Stream in live conditions for six months.

Hundreds of thousands of bags were screened at real events, proving the system’s accuracy, reliability and ability to keep queues moving.

Staff were freed from manual searches and could instead focus on managing the wider environment, while visitors reported a smoother experience.

At another recent trial at a high-profile London venue, the benefits went even further.

With queues eliminated outside, guests entered more quickly, spent more time inside and venue revenue increased as a direct result.

This combination of customer-driven design, government oversight and commercial benefit ensured LV Stream was built not just as a piece of technology, but as a trusted solution for the realities of major events.

Why it matters now

The security landscape is shifting.

Threats are more diverse, staff shortages are acute and costs are rising.

Meanwhile, the public expects to feel safe without enduring intrusive or time-consuming checks.

LV stream changes the equation by offering:

• Speed & Scale: 1,400 bags screened per hour, aligned with walking pace proven in live trials
• Operator-Free Efficiency: Staff intervene only when AI flags an anomaly
• Customisation: AI packages tailored to venue needs – from weapons to flares, vapes or potential IEDs
• Integration: Works seamlessly with walkthrough detectors, access gates and command systems
• Flexibility: Compact design and easy installation
• Commercial Impact: Shorter queues mean more time inside – and more revenue
• Cost Effectiveness: Staffing savings enable payback in under 12 months

For venues, this means safer environments, reduced costs and greater returns.

For the public, it means less waiting and more time enjoying the event.

“X-ray is an important part of a layered security solution”

Stefan Thompson, Security Operations Manager at The O2, has reportedly already seen the benefits: “X-ray is an important part of a layered security solution in the events world.

“We have always used X-ray technology at the O2 Arena and have found LINEV Systems to be an excellent team to work with. Their support and depth of knowledge as an OEM is second to none.”

That layered approach is key.

LV Stream doesn’t replace other measures but removes the biggest friction point: The bag check.

This allows surveillance, walkthrough detectors and staff awareness to work more effectively while keeping people moving into safe zones quickly.

From queues to continuous flow

Perhaps LV Stream’s most important contribution is the elimination of queues.

In conventional setups, operator bottlenecks and manual searching create crowd build-ups outside entry points – precisely where people are most vulnerable.

By maintaining continuous flow, LV Stream reduces this exposure while enhancing guest experience.

A visitor who feels welcomed and safe is more likely to return and recommend the venue.

And as recent trials show, more time inside translates to increased spending on food, beverage and merchandise.

Looking ahead: Why the future is automated

Security technology is evolving quickly.

The future is automated, intelligent and almost invisible to the end user.

Visitors should barely notice the process yet leave confident in their safety – especially at public spaces for enjoyment and entertainment, where people do not want to feel like they’re going through an airport.

For operators, automation ensures consistency, scalability and financial sustainability.

For the wider industry, it sets a new standard – raising the bar across venues of all sizes, not just those with the biggest budgets.

As LINEV Systems’ journey shows, innovation comes from testing in real environments, refining with user feedback and proving under pressure.

LV Stream is the product of exactly that journey.

Security without the bottleneck

In an age where public spaces must balance openness with vigilance, LV Stream represents a step-change.

By combining AI-powered precision with operator-free automation, it enables venues to protect visitors at scale without sacrificing experience.

Queues can be eliminated, staff resources freed, revenues boosted and threats detected with greater consistency.

From stadiums and arenas to museums, attractions and transport hubs, LV Stream offers a path to safer, smoother and more profitable entry.

As one industry insider observed: “Every scan is a step towards a secure future.”

This article was originally published in the October edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.