Home Office: private security industry "important" in Government's counter-terror campaign

10 Feb 10

This morning, security minister Lord West met with senior representatives from the security industry at a major event held in London’s Westminster. Brian Sims reports.

By Brian Sims

In his speech, Lord West was keen to point out the important role security officers can play in the Government’s overall counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST.

The minister also spoke about the much-improved relations between the industry and the Home Office, and the bravery he has encountered from members of the security industry during his time as the minister.

The Home Office sent SMT Online the full text of Lord West’s speech, which we reproduce here...

Ladies and Gentlemen...

Thank You for coming along to our event today, and particular thanks to those who have travelled a long way. It’s a great pleasure to be here, and to see so many representatives of the security sector in attendance.

Ministerial responsibilities: security and counter-terrorism

We have never before held an event such as this one for the security guarding and escorting industry. I suspect that, for many of you, this is the first time that I have had the opportunity to speak to you. On that basis, I’ll first describe my current role and responsibilities.

Since 2007, I have been the minister responsible for security and counter-terrorism responsible for:

protecting the Critical National Infrastructure
ensuring resilience
preparing for – and mitigating – the impacts of a terrorist attack
preventing radicalisation and extremism
creating intelligence from information
delivering security for the 2012 Olympics

Responsibilities cover security (including counter-terrorism and Olympic security), the Home Office’s role in the National Security Strategy and civil contingencies, as well as all Home Office business in the House of Lords.

Last year, the Prime Minister also appointed me as the chairman of the new National Security Forum.

CONTEST, Science and Technology and Brochures

Last March, the Government republished its CONTEST strategy, which still stands on the four strategic pillars of:

pursue: to stop terrorist attacks
prevent: to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremism
protect: to strengthen our protection against terrorist attacks
prepare: where an attack cannot be stopped, to mitigate its impact

The refreshed CONTEST strategy presents a great deal of important detail. It’s designed to be a reference manual and guide for all those involved in counter-terrorism and, if you haven’t already done so, I recommend that you read it.

Following on from CONTEST, later on last year we also published the UK’s Science & Technology Strategy for Countering International Terrorism. It charts our vision of how Government will work with industry and academia in order that, together, we develop the right solutions for the right problems.

That document also charts how we must work together with international partners, as well as industry and academia, if we are going to succeed.

To support that Science & Technology strategy, we published the first of a series of brochures. The inaugural brochure is entitled ‘Countering the Terrorist Threat: Ideas and Innovation: How Industry and Academia can play their part’.

This brochure is aimed specifically at industry and academia. It describes four key counter-terrorism challenges, as well as five key technologies expected to make the greatest contribution towards meeting the key challenges ahead.

How the security industry and academia can be involved

Role of security officers

I arrived at the Home Office after a long career in the military, serving with both the Royal Navy and the MoD. I retired from the navy as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, having served as captain of three Royal Navy ships.

Today, though, when I talk about people in uniform, just for a change I don’t mean sailors. I mean security officers and police officers. Unlike sailors, at the front line of duty both security officers and police officers may be there in just ones or twos.

While the media often portrays the police service as the front line, we must remember that events such as the bombings on 7 July 2005 and the attacks in London and at Glasgow Airport in 2007 show that, all-too-easily, your colleagues may find themselves on the front line as well.

We are all well aware of the threats to security that the UK faces every day – for example, from organised crime, terrorism, theft and industrial espionage. You sometimes don’t know how the next threat may arise.

Police officers and security officers put themselves in harm’s way every day. When I attended the Annual Luncheon and Awards organised by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) last July, I presented prizes and awards to some very brave people who handled dangerous and difficult situations with great courage and determination.

Indeed, I was very grateful and proud that British people like that are working in the security industry in the UK.

That is one of the many reasons why I’m very pleased that all of the companies represented here today are in business in the UK, helping to protect everybody in the UK.

Wider industry and RISC

When I arrived at the Home Office, I found a dislike of industry. Since then, with the encouragement of the (then) Home Secretary Dr John Reid, industry established the UK Security & Resilience Industry Suppliers’ Community (RISC).

RISC is an alliance of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), Aerospace, Defence & Security (A|D|S) and Intellect (the UK’s technology industry association)

Together, we have witnessed a sea change in the relationship with industry. We have many different forums for discussing with industry a wide range of challenges. We have held a number of major events with industry, such as that arranged for today.

We engaged industry in the technology demonstrator programme last year, and we are about to launch another similar exercise. We also now have an industry secondee inside the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism.

Strengths of UK industry

UK industry has unique and particular strengths, including:

a renowned track record in high-quality defence and security systems
systems and equipment for everyday policing and for counter terrorism in use on the front line – it’s not equipment that is only to be held in reserve
a justified worldwide reputation for effective, successful and professional policing by consent

Counter-terrorism and security are international problems, and the marketplace is global. These factors provide the UK with an excellent platform for marketing and sales in overseas security and counter-terrorism markets.

Vital contribution to the nation’s security

The security industry plays an important role in protecting the UK and, therefore, contributes towards the Government’s CONTEST counter terrorism strategy.

Your staff make a vital contribution to our security, often in difficult and vulnerable circumstances. Rest assurned the Government recognises that important contribution you all make.

Thank You for everything that you and your companies do to make the UK a safer place. I hope that you enjoy today’s event, and that you find the briefings very useful.