Razor wire is a mesh of metal strips with sharp edges whose purpose is to prevent passage by intruders. The multiple blades of a razor wire fence are designed to inflict serious cuts on anyone attempting to climb through and therefore have a strong psychological deterrent effect. In many high-security applications, barbed tape supplanted barbed wire, which could be circumvented relatively quickly by humans without tools, while penetrating razor wire barriers without tools is very slow and difficult, giving security forces more time to respond.
