Tuesday, July 5 is the next date for Professional Security’s Security TWENTY series of conference-exhibitions.
As ever, entry is free, whether you are a security manager, installer, specifier or consultant, or just someone who wants to get an update on the sector. As ever, there’s a regional flavour to the event, at the Hilton Deansgate Hotel, in Manchester city centre. Sponsors are Canon, Anixter, Hanwha Techwin, and CSL DualCom. Words and pictures from the event in the August 2016 print issue of Professional Security magazine.
Speakers
Among the invited speakers are Surveillance Camera Commissioner Tony Porter, a former senior Manchester policeman; Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) head of security and business continuity (BC) Alan Cain, pictured; Facewatch founder Simon Gordon; and the former Cheshire Police man now forensic video consultant and trainer David Spreadborough. Canon, Hanwha Techwin, Axis Communications, Seagate and Southwest Microwave will give manufacturer updates. The morning conference will be chaired by Security TWENTY regular, past IPSA chairman Mike White. A buffet lunch follows; so yes, there is such a thing as a free lunch. Then, as during the mid-morning tea break (also free, also with biscuits!), and before the conference starts at 9.30am, you can view the exhibition floor from 8.30am. That’s the time to drop in if you are busy and just want to see the exhibitors before you put in a day’s work in the north west, or if you just want a free bacon butty. But be warned; they do go fast!
Monday night dinner
On the Monday, July 4 the same venue hosts a three course informal (no tie required) dinner that’ll be followed by a casino at the hotel. It’s to encourage attendees to network and mingle in a relaxed atmosphere while raising funds for charities from a raffle and the ‘heads and tails’ game. This time, the charity (nominated by IPSA Chief Executive Officer, Justin Bentley) is Derian House Children’s Hospice which provides care to children with life limiting illnesses in the region.
What they’ll say
Alan Cain, who moved to MMU from the University of Leeds a couple of years ago, was featured in our April 2015 issue. The BC part of his title means that part of his job – besides protecting the assets of the fast-developing campus – is to make sure that it stays open, and is able to ‘bounce-back’ from an unexpected and disruptive shock, whether extreme weather or anything man-made. For Facewatch, see page 38. Dave Spreadborough will cover video analysis; what good video looks like, and how you can make it better, whether you’re a manufacturer, installer or end user. He, like Tony Porter, is a return speaker at ST. As surveillance camera commissioner, his job is to bang the drum for standards in CCTV surveillance, and the principles of the code of practice – which it makes sense in austerity to abide by, he argues. Expect to hear more about his office’s draft strategy, to set out directions for all to do with CCTV, for example in operator training and standard procedures. His message; there is such a thing as good surveillance, by consent.
Four next year
Professional Security MD Roy Cooper said: “The reason we’re going back to Manchester was that we did a survey of our northern visitors, and they asked us to go back; Manchester won hands down. It’s a good venue and they look after us. The show is going to be bigger this time; we have more exhibitors than last time [July 2014], including ones that have never exhibited before; so there will be something for everyone.” If you’re wanting to show your product or service, the Manchester exhibition is full; as is the next one, the last one of the year, at Heathrow on November 2; but four more ST events are planned for 2017. If just visiting, Roy asks that you register beforehand on the website, just for judging the numbers to cater for.
More details
For more about ST16 North, and to register, visit the ‘events’ part of the Professional Security website; or email organiser Liz Lloyd, at [email protected].
