Welcome to GovNet’s Homeland & Border Security 2010 conference. Facilitating the gathering of key organisations and agencies involved in building this country’s security infrastructure for five successful years, this sector-leading conference is an opportunity to shape and develop progressive security strategies for today, and beyond.
This year’s conference will focus on how effective and innovative security strategies and policies can create stability and continuity in a rapidly changing world. The conference will address how the latest technologies available are working to enhance the UK’s capability to gather, store, analyse and securely share intelligence between national and international security agencies.
In August, the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism in the Home Office published the UK Science and Technology Strategy for Countering International Terrorism. This, in conjunction with CONTEST II, has set out the Government’s 3 year counter-terrorism strategy. As the threat is constantly changing, and in light of recent threats, it is important to consider whether this country’s security policy is able to respond with sufficient agility to the broad spectrum of evolving and unpredictable threats which could emerge. To discuss this, the Home Secretary, the Rt. Hon. Alan Johnson MP, has been invited to deliver the Opening Keynote, setting the event themes for the day.
At this year’s conference, the UK’s dependence on cyber space and the link between its security and the health of the nation will form a core theme. Neil Thompson, the Director of the recently established Office of Cyber Security (OCS), has been invited to speak about the efforts of this previous year to implement the first national Cyber Security Strategy. The keynote will also include a discussion of how coherence across government in handling this threat could make the UK a leader in Cyber Security.
Sir Ian Andrews, the Chair of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, is confirmed to deliver a special keynote which will build upon another one of the day’s themes, the threat which serious organised crime poses and its annual £20-£40 million cost to the economy. He will also discuss SOCA’s joint initiatives with other government agencies, particularly the UK Border Agency, in disrupting serious crime abroad and at the border, before it can take root in the UK. Julie Gillis, the e-Borders Programme Director at the UK Border Agency will be on hand to develop this discussion on inter-agency cooperation, as well as provide an update on the £1.2 billion eBorders programme.
UK security and resilience is inextricably linked to that of the European Union’s. At this year’s conference, the Executive Director of FRONTEX, Ilkka Pertti Juhani Laitinen, is confirmed to deliver a Special Keynote about this relationship. As the Eurosur project and the European Programme on Critical Infrastructure Protection surges ahead, this year’s conference is an opportunity to hear how collaborative working at the EU level is countering the diverse threats, and contributing to a strong resilience infrastructure in Europe.
With a wide range of policy topics to be discussed, from an update on PREVENT and community engagement as a vehicle to tackle violent extremism, to the role of surveillance and intelligence in security strategies, this conference is an opportunity to meet and network with colleagues facing the same security challenges as you.
The rules of security are changing. We face a wide range of evolving and unpredictable threats, triggered by massive societal, technological, and environmental changes. As the UK seeks to respond to these threats in a more agile and adaptable way – join us as and be a part of the debate.
© GovNet Events 2010
