Decades dealing with the threat of terrorism from home and abroad have given the UK the kind of ‘on the job’ experience say organisers of the Transport Security Expo (TRS), ahead of the two-day December event in London. Last year’s event saw a delegation from Libya arrive with the aim of improving security at 13 of the country’s airports; a Saudi team met UK rail security people to discuss new projects in that country and Malaysia sent representatives to the event’s Cyber Workshops to gain experience.
Peter Jones, CEO of TRS organiser Nineteen Events, said: “It’s a very natural fit to have National Counter Terrorism Awareness Week leading up to TRS 2014 as transport security is such a vital component of the national security effort. We’re delighted to be showcasing the latest products and services from the UK and educating international delegations on the best of British.”
This year Australia’s Transport Commissioner Paul Retter is flying to host the event’s VIP Airport Programme and join 50 officials from the UK Department for Transport and 30 representatives from the British Transport Police while a further 20 foreign countries are sending delegations to the event including Brazil, Estonia, Ghana, USA, Spain, Switzerland, Morocco, Japan, India and Qatar.
TRS reports that it works alongside the Home Office and the UKTI DSO to identify those countries that are priority opportunity markets for the export of UK security and ensure the right industry representatives from those nations are sent to learn security practice from the UK. TRS is now in its 12th year of providing an educational and networking centre for the global transport security industry and it has expanded its conference to include major events security.
Conference speakers include Stephen Phipson from the Home Office’s Office for Security and Counter Terrorism; Shuna Mayes, Head of the Commonwealth Games Safety and Security Unit; Isle of Wight Festival Operations Manager Dave Steele; and Tim Cutbill, Head of Operational Resilience for London Fire Brigade.
Alongside the event’s conference, foreign visitors to TRS are able to see a Live Demonstration Theatre, which will provide real-time examples of scenarios and solutions in action, and a Security Vehicle Zone showcasing the latest in armoured vehicles for protection of VIPs, celebrities, high net-worth people and cash in transit.
Peter Jones said: “Every year TRS welcomes more and more overseas delegations looking to learn from the UK security community in order to improve their own country’s defences. The message is clear that the UK is the pacesetter for global security.”
Transport Security Expo takes place on December 2 and 3, 2014 at Olympia, London. Visit www.transec.com.
