TPS to host further round of counter-terrorism seminars

29 Jan 09

The Security Consulting Group at TPS will be hosting another series of seminars in 2009 following the success of last year’s counter-terrorism series.

By Brian Sims

The original batch of events successfully shed new light on current Best Practice in the protection of corporate buildings and occupiers from the risk of terrorism.

At the last TPS free event, held at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, over 60 key people were in attendance, including representatives of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, members of the Scottish Government, Police and Fire Service, architects, engineers and members of the corporate security sector.

Bomb blast and hostile vehicle mitigation

Chaired by Professor Yong Lu – specialist in structural mechanics at the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment at Edinburgh University – the seminar covered bomb blast and hostile vehicle mitigation measures for the built environment, Critical National Infrastructure issues and security for crowded places. The content neatly followed themes laid down in the security review conducted by Lord West, the Government’s security minister.

A particularly notable area of discussion raised within the seminar was the examination of issues relating to collateral damage that could be sustained by buildings in close proximity to what might be regarded as high value targets by terrorists – an issue that has been all-too-often overlooked in the past.

Designing-in security at an early stage

“TPS is very pleased to host these free events on what is an incredibly important subject for all of those with an interest in the safety and security of the built environment,” commented Mark Whyte, director of security consulting and explosion effects at Carillion plc company TPS. “Imparting the message that designing-in security at an early stage in any new scheme is the most cost-effective way of helping to keep people and assets safe and secure is of vital importance.”

The instant success of the event was verified not only by the volume of positive feedback received by the organisers, but also by the subsequent calls for follow-up seminars.

For more information on future events, please contact Jacqueline Dowd via e-mail: Dowd.jacqueline@tpsconsult.co.uk