IFSEC 2010: Sir David Veness on the counter-terror agenda

10 May 10

Subsequent to UBM Live’s security and fire portfolio director James Blue completing a brief introduction immediately outside Hall 2 at the NEC, IFSEC 2010 was officially opened at 10.00 am this morning by Sir David Veness CBE QPM, the former assistant commissioner for specialist operations at the Metropolitan Police Service.

With his usual high degree of professionalism, Sir David – who earned Master of Arts and Master of Law degrees from Trinity College, Cambridge prior to joining the Met in 1966 – highlighted the key themes of this year’s show.

“CCTV, access control, counter-terror and physical security, fire solutions, intruder alarms, integrated security, network solutions and security solutions for end users are all key themes in 2010,” explained Sir David, whose appearance in Birmingham was expertly facilitated by Gerard McAtamney (programme director, security and policing at London First).

There was also mention of 2010’s IFSEC Conference programme, and its own key themes: countering terror and protecting the nation (a subject close to Sir David’s heart, and one on which he’s a recognised authority), corporate security in the recovering economy and next generation technologies.

“These topics will be expanded upon and developed by outstanding contributors from both the private and public security arenas. They’ll look at protecting the CNI, preparations for the Olympics in 2012 and guarding. This range of issues illustrates to me the vital contribution the security sector makes to both social protection and economic endeavour.”

Expertise from the private sector

Sir David elaborated: “In many Western societies, as much as 90% of Critical National Infrastructure is privately owned. There is no doubt that national security cannot be achieved without the scale of professional expertise and technical initiative provided by the private sector.”

As far as Sir David is concerned: “This combination of talents is essential to combat the reality of threats now facing the citizens of the UK. These aspects underline the emphasis placed within the UK counter-terrorist strategy CONTEST on international terrorism, and this includes – regretfully – the threat of mass casualty attacks.”

He continued: “It’s thus entirely appropriate that the span of the current threats receives continuing emphasis at this exhibition, and in the educational programme that runs alongside it.”

In conclusion, Sir David explained: “There’s no doubt as to the outstanding practical contribution made to resilience, business continuity and, above all, public safety by the private sector. On that note, it’s my great pleasure to declare IFSEC 2010 formally open.”

Distinguished policing and security career

For those of you not fully aware of Sir David’s career history, he transferred to the Met’s Criminal Investigations Department in 1969. Ten years later, he trained to become a skilful negotiator and ended up directing the Met’s negotiator course for eight years post-1980. This role saw him placed on the negotiating team at the 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege.

Promoted to commander in 1987, Sir David went on to head up Protection Command (with direct responsibility for the safety and security of royalty and politicians) before assuming the role of commander of public order, territorial security and operational support. This was followed by promotion to deputy assistant commissioner, specialist operations in November 1991.

Sir David was further promoted to assistant commissioner, specialist operations on 5 April 1994. He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the 1994 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the year 2000 Queen’s Birthday Honours and then knighted in the 2005 New Year Honours.

On 13 January 2005, the United Nations (UN) announced that Sir David was to become the first Under-Secretary General of the UN with responsibility for safety and security.

Pressing security issues of the day

Having settled down in The SMT SELECT Lounge and been greeted by Simon Parker – group director of UBM Live’s Venues, Protection and Leisure division – Sir David was then keen to talk about some pressing security issues.

“The first point to make, Brian, is in relation to the enduring nature of the threat to our safety, in particular from international extremism and epitomised by terrorist acts.”

“I would draw upon my recent experiences over the last five years with the United Nations. My role as head of security gave me an opportunity to see that threat in various challenging locations around the world.”

Sir David’s time at the UN came about due to a series of tragic events in 2003. If you recall, there had been a disturbing bomb attack at the UN headquarters in Iraq, specifically at The Canal Hotel in Baghdad. The UN then decided it would be appropriate to take a more professional and committed position in relation to resourcing and engagement in respect of staff security and safety overall.”

The role was also driven by the sad reality that even international organisations engaged in very good work could nevertheless be regarded as a target by the terrorist.

Three key areas of conversation

“The three impressions that I’ve been left with as a result of my various journeys are as follows. First, there’s a continuing ambition on the part of international terrorists to expand their activities if they’re able to do so. Most notably in those locations where security is most challenging, either by dint of the state of security development in a given region or the difficulties of providing security. East Africa and sub-Saharan Africa would be prime examples of that, so too Iraq and Afghanistan.”

The second area Sir David highlighted was the security of the UK, and how it’s inextricably reliant on security elsewhere in the world.

“The lesson to be learned is that it’s not only what we do at home but how we can assist security elsewhere. If security is not as strong overseas as perhaps we would wish then, despite every good attention here at home, we shall continue to remain vulnerable.”

The third ‘challenge’ Sir David highlighted involved the interdependence between many locations overseas and the UK, which is made all the more apparent by the fact that we are clearly a priority target.

“If there are terrorists with linkages overseas, and there is the opportunity for them to develop their tactics, techniques and procedures, that could have an impact not only against UK interests abroad but also here against our own vulnerabilities.”

Touching on the Iraq and Afghanistan situations, and the impact of both on security and safety here in the UK, Sir David said: “They have been examples of what I’ve described. If there are security challenges there, and that has been the case, this will have implications for the UK.”

Partnerships, co-operations, endeavours

The other issue that Sir David felt was worth considering – particularly in the context of those organisations represented at IFSEC 2010 – centred on the fact that the UK has an extremely commendable record on public-private partnerships, co-operations or common endeavours.

“Call them what you will,” stated Sir David, “they can have the effect of reducing the risk to members of the public.”

He continued: “We have to be absolutely clear in our minds that this is an indispensible part of prevention of the most dire terrorist activity and, indeed, a range of other criminality. All, or almost all of the technological innovation is coming from the private sector. We’re also seeing the terrorist dimension increasing its own use of technology. To me, it’s obvious that we must optimise the contribution made by security technology to the defence of the public realm.”

That said, Sir David feels that the rich tapestry we have in the UK of different organisations itself represents a challenge in terms of achieving coherence.

“We must not overlap our activities. We need to take time out and optimise what we’re doing. We have a blessing of riches and a degree of cohesion. Other countries don’t have The Security Institute, neither do they have Project Griffin and Project Argus.”

Sir David’s own thought on this matter is that, maybe between now and the summer of 2012 when we clearly face an enhanced period of concern and vulnerability, “that could be the time for us to think about achieving even more by greater co-operation and co-ordination.”

From different points of view

The overwhelming factor is that all professionals are looking to do the same thing (ie ramp up security provision). Either from a business point of view, wherein they could be engaged in business security, or from a provider’s point of view where they find themselves locked into technology.

“A more immediately constructive and productive way forward would be for the various organisations in the UK, laterally – almost in a cross-cutting sense – to see how they might enhance their efforts to make sure there is no contradiction of activities and effort, and then we could move forward.”

The two-year period between now and London 2012 may provide a window of opportunity for that to happen. “Certainly from the point of view of London First, we’re beginning to explore with other institutions, bodies, projects and initiatives whether that might be a feasible proposition.”

In terms of the role of the security practitioner going forward, Sir David – after 38 years of policing – is now seeing this whole debate from the global perspective. “I’ve witnessed how security professionals emerge within given countries, and one’s struck by the fact that we do not enjoy a coherent process of development for our security directors and managers.”

He added: “I mean this across a very wide range of practitioners. I’m talking about my former colleagues in the police and ex-military personnel who make a mid or end career move into security. I mean it for people who develop in the commercial sector and then apply themselves in the security context, and how their expertise is developed and taken ahead.”

Developing a range of career options

Tellingly, Sir David continued: “One sees the challenges young people now face in translating the widening number of university courses dealing with counter-terrorism and security into a structured career. Their career path into the security world and how they might develop a range of career options appears to be much, much more difficult than it ought to be.”

In a world that’s getting more peaceful that wouldn’t, according to Sir David, “be an enormous problem to rectify”. The dangers of international terrorism, though, are nothing if not very stark and graphic at the same time. “They are enduring and real, particularly in the UK.”

Sir David added: “Our need to have a more cohesive career pattern and series of pathways is a growing requirement. It does seem to be pretty clear to me that there’s a considerable degree of confusion that could be reduced. I’m not underestimating or undermining the splendid work done by organisations like The Security Institute and ASIS to professionalise the industry, but I don’t think we’ve gone as far as we might do.”

On home shores, Sir David feels we are “fortuitously blessed” with a group of men and women in policing and the security and intelligence services “who represent the best generation of young professionals we’ve ever had”. However, Sir David added: “We cannot rely on this unless the situation moves ahead in a structured and cohesive manner.”

Stretching the point, should we be looking for a new breed of individual to manage security?

“The challenge is so pressing and so demanding, and requires such a span of resources that there’s a space here for everyone. As the security commercial space expands there will be myriad skills, ages and backgrounds involved. Ultimately, the skill lies in ensuring that those who come into security at the beginning of their career are optimised in terms of the contribution they can make.”

Technology: the genuine game changer

For Sir David, technology – such as that on display at IFSEC – is the game changer that makes the contribution of the private security industry to national resilience absolutely fundamental.

“You only have to look at the way in which those who would do us harm are acting,” he explained. “The common theme is that they’re using technology in a malevolent way, and in a manner unknown to previous generations. We must harness security technology in a far more forward-thinking manner.”

Sir David referred to the CONTEST programme as being commendable. “It deserves credit”. However, in the private sector he still sees gaps and challenges.

“Innovation within our universities, much of which is great, is characterised by people engaged in small-scale activities, but the difficulty they find in moving their products into a position where they can be advanced and financially supported is still too recurrent a difficulty.”

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