Peter French, a UK visitor to the annual ASIS International exhibits – falling over the first anniversary of September 11 – ponders Ground Zero before a review of the US security management gathering.
Visiting seemed to be an intrusion at this very personal time for a whole nation. Visiting Ground Zero prior to Philadelphia helped me understand even better the horrors of that September day. As a visitor to the 110th floor of the World Trade Center and now to see this 10-storey hole in the ground gives you the surreal perspective. Was that still a smell of dust in the air’ Did I just imagine the eeriness as you approached the cordoned-off blocks around Wall Street. As usual the ASIS Exhibits exuded professionalism: 150 seminars over 3.5 days. The City of Philadelphia warmed to the 22,000 ASIS international attendees. The exhibits had outgrown the planned three halls and included a further exhibits space, totalling 440,000 sq ft. The ASIS seminar and exhibits is one of the largest US shows and can only be accommodated in nine North American cities. This year more than 6,000 hotel bedrooms and numerous B&Bs were required on the busiest nights. The 1,900 exhibiting companies comprised many innovative organisations. In Europe we tend to see exhibitions dominated by alarm or CCTV manufacturers but the ASIS exhibits does draw interesting, large and small organisations wishing to sell into the risk and security market. The joining together of Radionics and Detection Systems to form Bosch Security is an example of how individual disciplines are being re-packaged and delivered. A burst in technology enhancing products such as intevision or management reporting platforms are delivering value for money.
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A look in the exhibition catalogue reveals 102 CCTV companies, 122 alarm companies and 107 integrated platform providers. With affordable booths we also have quite a few independent operators who have successfully sold products to US corporations and seek global regional partners with whom they can develop business alliances. One of my local contacts put this as $2bn referral business. Since 9/11 there is a perceivable increase in the personnel background screening activity in the low-tech sectors. This is evidenced by the increased reporting of identity theft by many employing companies. Yet there still remains throughout the US broad discrepancies in training and screening requirements by traditional manned guarding providers.The government airport screening service is currently under staffed by 27,000 with only 5,000 baggage screeners in place (New York Times, June 2002).
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Philadelphia has their new security screeners in place and most refreshing they were. Training appears to include the recognition that passengers are clients. All screeners were involved in the process of security checks rather than discussing the latest boyfriend, extended fingernails or the recent night club. Unfortunately there are signs that corporate America is already disengaging from security. Budgets are in retreat and status quo security means just more of the same traditional approach for many. A difference is being made by ASIS through their new physical and investigators CPP [Certified Protection Professional] modules. Attendance at CPP-only sessions on Handling media and Using selling tools, that keep senior business managers engaged in the process of security were sell-out events. One director of security informed me that his executive board is now looking for monthly updates on security where before it was quarterly. He said: ‘That is my opportunity to look at long term planning asset and information protection. For the first time this global corporation was using a risk matrix when setting up plants, improving faculties etc. For the first time security and risk are the heart of the business process.’
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The standard of seminars is vastly improving with key note sessions very well attended. Bruce George MP, and a panel of experts were able to provide an update from a UK prospective on possible changes in the UK following September 11.
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In the margins the private security sector (both proprietary and contract resources) are engaged with government over the treatment of ‘first responders’. The core issues relate to the non-engagement by government with the private sector who will nonetheless be typically the first persons on the scene of a terrorist attack. At the World Trade Center the actions of civilian security personnel undoubtedly saved many lives. Therefore should not government training resources be provided to train private personnel in CRBN incidents’ This provides an important dilemma to insurance companies in respect of actions by private security forces.
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Back on the floor of the exhibition hall there is lots of interest in wireless CCTV, digital imaging over Internet Protocol and biometrics. Technology in this sector is increasing at a fast pace. Proximity of technology has now the ability to identify and profile far larger groups of people. With the estimated increase in travellers at airports bio-technology has a role to play. If you are standing in the Walt Disney management lines just to have bags checked, it makes more sense to have technology which snifts out problem passengers. Rather than just be reliant on old scanning technology. Considering Boeing’s proposal that access via a controlled tunnel of 10 meters would profile passengers at a rate of 100 people a minute, enough to allow more detailed interviewing of problem passengers, so hasten the flow patterns of the majority.
