Since the devastating terrorism attacks that took place in the United States on September 11 2001, the threat of terrorist activity has been at the forefront of the national security agenda.
Almost ten years on from 9/11, the security landscape has changed dramatically. Nowhere are these changes more apparent, perhaps, than in the aviation sector.
By now, most of us have become accustomed to the strengthened security presence at airports, including the introduction of new security procedures that would have seemed alien years ago (such as the limitations placed on carrying liquids in hand luggage, or the removal of shoes as part of the security scanning procedures).
The roots of such stringent security measures can be traced back to various acts of terrorism, from the attempted ‘shoe bombing’ in 2002 to the more recent plot aimed at detonating explosives on an aircraft bound for Detroit on Christmas Day 2009.
Certainly, the attack on Glasgow International Airport in 2007 provided a stark reminder that the UK’s aviation industry also faces the spectre of terrorism on a continual basis, with the accessible nature of component buildings and the transient population passing through them making airports increasingly vulnerable to attack.
Responding to the ever-changing terrorist threat
Inevitably, demands placed upon private security companies to respond to the ever-changing nature of terrorism have resulted in significant technological developments and innovations across the security industry.
While controversial, the introduction of full-body scanners in airports across the UK, for example, represented a significant evolution of existing security technology, in turn allowing passengers to travel safely and securely with minimum delay or disruption to their journeys.
To better protect the privacy of passengers, this technology was designed to work differently from the ubiquitous hand luggage scanners we’re all used to seeing at our airports.
Image analysis should be conducted remotely, out of sight of the scanned passenger, with systems incapable of storing, exporting or transmitting those images. Also, all images should be automatically deleted from the systems after they have been reviewed.
Existing technology has also developed to meet the changing needs of the aviation industry. For instance, CCTV can now be used on-board aircraft to deter problem behaviour, with many airlines turning to video surveillance as a powerful tool in the struggle to manage unruly passengers.
Developments in Video Content Analysis
On the ground, CCTV technology plays an even greater role in maintaining airport security, with developments such as Video Content Analysis (VCA) now used round-the-clock to detect suspicious behaviour and alert airport security personnel.
VCA works by automatically analysing CCTV footage to gather information and intelligence about its content. For the aviation sector, this can have several major benefits, from highlighting unattended baggage to counting the number of people passing through an area.
A BSIA survey conducted in 2010 showed that over 60% of CCTV suppliers are currently providing VCA technology to customers in the aviation sector, with overall usage of VCA rising 23% between 2009 and 2010.
The recent announcement of the death of Osama Bin Laden has provided a stark reminder of the risk the UK continues to face from extremist groups and individuals, with the Government warning of an increased likelihood of retaliatory attacks against the UK.
As such, the role of aviation security is bound to remain critical in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
To find out more about how BSIA members are helping to protect the UK’s airports, visit the dedicated section of the Trade Association’s website (a link is provided on the right hand panel of this page)
Meet The Buyers returns to IFSEC
Exhibitors at this year’s IFSEC Exhibition (which runs from Monday 16-Thursday 19 May at the NEC in Birmingham) still have time to register for the ever-popular Meet The Buyers event.
This gathering of like-minded professionals offers one-to-one introductory meetings for UK exhibitors to present their products and services to security buyers from a wide range of countries.
Now entering its fifth year, Meet The Buyers is organised by the BSIA in partnership with the UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO), IFSEC organiser United Business Media and the International Trade Promotion Centre.
Attendance is available only to IFSEC UK exhibitors and BSIA members.
Formatted as a ‘speed networking’ event, where brief ten-minute introductory meetings are arranged in advance, this year’s Meet The Buyers will welcome security procurement specialists from countries including India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Dubai and Nigeria.
Introducing UK businesses to overseas procurement
Caroline Strickley, export services executive at the BSIA, commented: “Over the years, Meet The Buyers has grown from strength to strength, introducing UK businesses to over 1,200 overseas buyers and resulting in almost GB pound 10 million worth of predicted sales.”
Strickley added: “This really is a genuinely unique opportunity for UK businesses to showcase what they have to offer to overseas buyers and establish key contacts. The significant amount of business that has resulted from previous Meet The Buyers events demonstrates the important contribution UK security companies make to the British economy.”
Trade and Investment officers from foreign Embassies and Consulates will also be on hand to impart their expert knowledge and advice for those UK concerns looking to break into overseas markets and expand their business.
To view profiles of buyers and officers, as well as the current list of available meeting slots, visit www.uktidso-meetbuyers-ifsec2011.com (again, the web link is provided on the right hand panel of this page)
Meet The Buyers at IFSEC 2011 takes place on Monday 16 May in the Birmingham NEC’s Toute Suite
The Big Issue: BSIA – ensuring security training is fit for purpose
Following on from the introduction of regulation to the private security industry, the importance of quality training for security personnel has been of paramount concern for businesses operating in licensable sectors.
Regulation sparked a rapid growth in the establishment of companies providing training for the security industry. However, many of these companies were inexperienced and lacked in-depth understanding of the complex nature of the role played out by security personnel.
As a result, a certain degree of discrepancy evolved between different training providers in terms of the level and quality of the training delivered, in turn raising concerns across the industry that individuals were receiving varying and inconsistent standards of training.
In an effort to resolve this issue, BSIA members looked to engage and work more closely with training providers and ensure that such organisations understood the needs of the industry, tailoring their courses accordingly.
Launch of the BSIA Training Providers Group
As such, and as reported on SMT Online, the BSIA recently launched a dedicated group for training providers within its Associate Members Section.
This development now enables training providers to work closely with security providers in order to produce training programmes that will ensure personnel working within the industry are trained to a standard that befits the nature of their duties.
Paul Tennent, chairman of the BSIA’s Training Providers Group, commented on the aims and objectives for this initiative going forward.
“The Group is keen on liaising with fellow training providers, colleges, security companies, trade organisations and the Government to improve the standard of training offered in the industry,” said Tennent.
“Being part of the BSIA means the Group will be able to access the wealth of knowledge and connections the Association has within the industry and Government, allowing us to drive standards, increase professionalism and act as the voice of the sector.”
To find out more about the BSIA’s new Training Providers Group or for details on how to join, contact membership manager Daren Wood on (telephone) 07710 082645 or via e-mail at: [email protected]
Amanda Beesley is PR and marketing communications manager at the BSIA
