10 July 2015 - Security Buyer Magazine

IVL Flow Control: “UK Drinking Water is at Risk”

IVL Flow Control claim that the UK’s drinking water is at risk from potential contamination of supply by terrorists, with current systems arguably not quick enough to contain a chemical or biological attack. According to IVL Flow Control, water companies are still leaving themselves extremely vulnerable, with the present District Metered Area (DMA) structures too slow to close down or divert something potentially incapacitating in the network. “What’s in place at the moment isn’t anywhere near quick enough to cope,” said Craig Stanners, Director of IVL Flow Control. “Those wishing to cause damage to our drinking water would laugh at our response that we’re waiting five days for results to come back from the lab! By then, it will be too late”. Instead, claims Stanners, a water quality monitoring system coupled to strategic control nodes/valves is the answer – so that in the event of a water quality failure or terrorist attack, intelligent rezoning would automatically prevent unwanted biological content or chemicals reaching the distribution network. He added: “We’re currently working on a major industrial installation, where we’ve designed in a preventative valve and penstock contamination system to eliminate any risk whatsoever of hydrocarbons entering the local sewer network – yet we aren’t being called in to protect the public from a potential terrorist wave of water-soluble biological or chemical contaminants. This can’t be right.” Stanners cited Al-Qaeda’s threats to poison drinking water in American and Western cities, as well as arrests made in Jordan of Iraqi agents who attempted to poison the water supply that serves American troops in the eastern Jordanian desert. “As it stands”, continued Stanners, “the contaminant can be detected as it enters the water treatment plant, and even in the very best-case scenario it would then be shut down while the harmful bacteria is neutralised. This would usually result in a ‘boil your water’ alert, but this delayed reaction caused by outdated technology means that the contaminant is undetected and people begin to get sick.” Stanners also pointed to two recent high profile events where power tools had been used to commit major offences, namely the £60M Hatton Garden jewellery heist in London and the escape of two convicted murderers in New York. “It’s well within a terrorist’s capability to use power tools to drill straight into a trunk main”, he said. “It’s quick – whereas identifying the type of illness and the actual source of the contamination would take a substantial amount of time. The technology to intelligently shut systems down without the public coming to harm is now available, so one has to ask, why take the risk?” For more on IVL Flow Control, visit: www.ivlflowcontrol.co.uk

Social Media – the latest challenge to Aviation Security addressed by Transport Security Expo 2015

Event News, Industry Sectors, Middle East News Desk, Technology / Editor

Transport Security Expo to address the full range of Aviation Security issues 2-3 December 2015 / Olympia London Aviation is one of the highest priorities on the security agenda with airports and airlines a key target for terrorists. But the tactics adopted by those with malicious intent are constantly changing. As Francis Morgan, Director of Policy, Heathrow Airport, has said: “Devising security strategies for aviation businesses becomes ever more complex. Every business involved in this industry needs to consider the numerous threats in the round and develop a strategy that covers not only their aviation activities, but their systems, their commercial information, their intellectual property and their people.” One of the new developments changing the landscape, for example, is the use of social media. In the words of Andy Blackwell, Head of Corporate Security, Virgin Atlantic: “Within aviation, it’s not just the genuine threats to people and planes that you have to worry about but all the hoaxes, many of which are designed to cause economic damage. Social media, because of the speed of communication, has changed how we receive threats and in many respects how we manage them. These are new areas and you have to develop ways to differentiate between the hoax and the real thing.” Through its exhibition, conferences and security innovation seminars, Transport Security Expo will be covering the full range of aviation security issues – from the very latest technological developments to the application of human skills such as Behavioural Detection, from the coordination of international regulatory standards to biohazards to the screening of passengers and cargo. Aviation is Transport Security Expo’s longest-established sector, attracting the world’s leading airports and airlines as well as freight and cargo handlers. In 2014 over £8.6m of procurement was brought to the Expo from the following visitors alone: Research and Development Manager, Heathrow Airport; Operational Manager Airport Security, Rotterdam The Hague Airport; Director of Safety and Security, British Airways; Emirates Group Security Divisional Vice President; UK Border Force National Scanner Manager; and CityJet’s Head of Security. Supporting the exhibition will be the conference programme, designed in close collaboration with an expert Advisory Board to maximise engagement between Government, Industry and Academia. Open to everyone to attend, free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis, the sessions will feature some of the most renowned opinion leaders in the industry. Peter Jones, CEO, Nineteen Events, organisers of Transport Security Expo, commented: “For anyone involved in aviation security, Transport Security Expo 2015 will be a must-attend event. Exhibitors are already signing up and, by booking early, enjoying the opportunity to work with us to ensure they get the maximum benefit from the show.” In addition to Aviation Security, other sectors at Transport Security Expo will include Maritime Security, Rail Security, Major Events Transport Security, Secure Transportation and Border Security. Companies interested in exhibiting at Transport Security Expo should visit http://www.transec.com/trsexhibitorenquiryforms/new or contact Monika Luis on +44 (0)208 947 9177. To find out more about the event, visit www.transec.com.

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