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Securing Educational Establishments

27 Jan 09

UBM Conferences has lined up an excellent event in March for security and facilities professionals working across the education sector who want to take a fresh look at their policies and modes of practice. Brian Sims reports.

By Brian Sims

Are you a security or facilities professional with a portfolio based in the education sector? Are you in charge of schools security for a local authority, or perhaps the director of security and facilities at a university? If so, it may well be the case that you’re having to look at fresh solutions that will help maintain the security and safety of pupils and staff alike.

That search for new ideas is largely being driven by the society in which we now live, and the economic conditions of the time. There are new and dangerous risks in the scholastic environment. We’ve all watched the news and read the national media stories about child abduction, and the problems associated with knife crime in and around schools. Let’s not forget, either, vicious assaults on university students, some of which lead to rape.

Those occurrences, coupled with the need for tight budgetary controls, necessarily mean that security provision in the education sector has to be more integrated and demonstrate a forward-thinking approach.

Rapid advances in security technology and management theory continually ensure that the choices available to specifiers of equipment are pretty vast. No two installations are the same, though, so determining what’s right for your establishment(s) in terms of systems, guarding and management style is absolutely critical.

Join forces and share Best Practice ideas

Heads of security, head teachers, facilities and estates managers, premises and business managers alike really need an event at which they can join forces, network, build strong contacts and share their Best Practice ideas and techniques. They also require a discussion chamber to debate the issues of the day, and thereafter draw some firm conclusions on development routes.

That being the case, UBM’s Conferences Division has teamed up with sponsors Axis Communications and Verint Systems in organising a one-day event that ticks all of those boxes and many more besides.

Running on Thursday 5 March at The Jury’s Inn Hotel in central Birmingham, ‘Securing Educational Establishments’ is supported by SMT Online, info4security, IFSEC 2009 and Security Installer magazine, and combines a series of first class presentations from the education and security sectors’ foremost professionals, a Panel Discussion on CCTV and detailed Case Studies. The overriding aim is to help security professionals develop cost-effective systems and management regimes that will maximise protection.

The conference will also be beneficial for members of the police service and educational boards as well as any security installers/systems suppliers looking to enhance their commercial partnerships with local schools and technical colleges.

Identifying the emerging risks

Following the opening remarks by Brian Sims, conference chairman and editor of SMT Online, the first speaker of the day is DCI Chris Philips. Head of the National Counter-Terrorism Security Office, Chris will examine how security managers might effectively tackle today’s threats and identify the emerging risks.

How might we manage the increasing and horrific presence of knife crime in society? Obviously, preventative tactics must be employed. We’ve seen the metal arches used by the British Transport Police on the London Underground, of course, but should they become compulsory in schools?

It’s sad that we should even have to contemplate this, but this huge problem must be addressed. Too many children are losing their lives because of the knife epidemic.

Chris is also going to examine how best to deal with extremist and radical groups, and outline the ways in which security staff can offer support and guidance to students. In terms of policies on drug crime in and around schools, colleges and universities, there are so-called ‘no nonsense’ stances and those that are more pragmatic. Which is the better of the two?

Given the nature of his role, you’d expect Chris to be discussing how security professionals may better liaise with members of the police service and the local community to fight crime and help develop a safer society for all – and that is indeed a central strand of his presentation.

Design and implementation of security systems

Following a short Question and Answer session and morning coffee, Calvin Beckford is next to the podium. Lead development officer for schools with the Secured by Design initiative, Beckford kicks off this segment of the day by focusing on the design and implementation of security systems in the scholastic setting. For Beckford, that’s all about optimising security while at the same time maintaining a pleasant learning environment.

His delivery will include discussion on how to integrate Secured by Design criteria within the design and build phases of any new educational structures such that Best Practice techniques are observed at all times. Achieving excellence in safety and security when it comes to people flow, classroom design, the monitoring of open spaces and perimeter protection is absolutely crucial.

Beckford is also taking time out to explore methods and techniques for effectively enhancing physical security without creating obstructions. Vital to the whole operation is making sure that staff and student attitudes and feelings towards security are accounted for every step of the way.

Surveillence systems: their appropriate use

Following a further Question and Answer session, the final segment of the conference prior to luncheon sees a Panel Discussion populated by Andy Ballard (president of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers), George Blanchflower (chair of the Association of University Chief Security Officers and a discussion group chairman later in the day), Pauline Norstrom (chairman of the BSIA’s CCTV Section) and Axis Communications’ UK and Ireland managing director Phil Doyle.

In a Question Time-style debate also involving members of the audience, the panel members are to mull over the salient question: ‘To what extent should surveillance systems be used in educational establishments?’ How do we manage the interface of public and private domains? What about compliance with moral and legal duties? Necessarily, there will be an examination of CCTV’s potential outside of its more traditional and accepted applications.

Leveraging IT systems for CCTV

Immediately after lunch, two detailed Case Studies begin the afternoon session. The first runs under the banner ‘How to leverage your IT systems and build an effective CCTV solution’. This Case Study is presented by Robert Wint, whom many of you will know from his role as marketing director at Verint Systems.

Robert will explore the benefits of integrated surveillance systems, and make the case for investment. How can you design and develop the right system for your organisation? Robert explores the pitfalls and challenges of implementation by sharing lessons learned. As part of the discussion, he’ll be focusing on one or two end user Case Studies.

Next to the mark is Dilip Chakravarti, the site services manager at King’s College in London. The main thread of his delivery concentrates on how you can establish a plan over two-to-five years that develops a comprehensive security system on an incremental basis. It’s all about creating a realistic vision but staying within budgetary constraints. Not always easy, but Dilip has the answers!

Dilip will stress the need for prioritising fundamental security needs, and making allowances for long-term growth and system upgrades. More and more security professionals are now exploring the possibility of leasing security equipment, but many don’t know how to go about doing so. Again, Dilip provides a blueprint. Leading on from this, he’ll also outline the successful development of those all-important supplier relationships.

Once Robert and Dilip have answered any questions from the audience and afternoon tea is concluded, the final session of the day features two presentations and three separate round table discussion groups.

Communicating with the student population

As president of the National Association of Head Teachers, Clarissa Williams looks at communication and building trust among students… On the basis that ‘Security is a rule not meant to be broken’. Williams considers the extension of responsibilities to safety beyond the classroom, employing strategies designed to manage ‘rebel’ children, educating students about security risks in open spaces and off-site and establishing an appropriate Duty of Care.

What are the next technological innovations that will enhance security in the educational sector? Exploring the use of biometrics and their potential impact on security in the educational environmental will be a main focus of Dr David Brown’s presentation. Director of the Institute of Industrial Research at the University of Portsmouth, Dr Brown is scheduled to talk about facial recognition systems, data management and search functions.

Schools, colleges and universities under discussion

The final element of the day offers delegates an opportunity to attend one of three round table discussion groups that address specific challenges for schools, colleges and universities.

Chaired by Clarissa Williams, the schools discussion will round the ‘grey areas’ of teachers’ responsibility to students outside of normal school hours. How can an appropriate Duty of Care be established?

There are two chairmen for the discussion group on colleges. Ghaffur Hussain (head of Quilliam Outreach at The Quilliam Foundation) and his colleague Rashad Ali (curriculum manager) explore the prominent threat of extremist behaviour in our schools and colleges. The idea is for participants to share problems and devise solutions.

With campuses growing all the time to accommodate new research requirements and expanding university student numbers, the need for effective monitoring solutions is increasingly important. George Blanchflower discusses the difficulties inherent in surveying, securing and searching.

Registration for Securing Educational Establishments

Registering for Securing Educational Establishments is easy. If you would like to book online, log on at www.securingeducationalestablishments.com Alternatively, telephone UBM’s Conference Division on 020 7921 8039, or e-mail: conferences@cmpi.biz

Group booking discounts for parties of three or more people are available by telephoning the above number.

We look forward to seeing you in Birmingham!