Posts By: Jacob Charles

Freedom of speech

John Maher warns secure radio communication technology could offer a tactical edge to both responders and terrorists alike and calls for greater inter-agency interoperability   The Paris attacks on the Charlie Hebdo publication office in January 2015 is evidence of a new profile of terrorism, furthering the reality that, despite ongoing, aggressive intelligence gathering, terrorist… Read more »

You’ve got ­–deadly– mail

As security officials struggle to protect their facilities from mail-borne terrorist threats, Jason Wakefield discusses the screening options available and argues now is the time to upgrade your antiquated X-ray system   Before purchasing equipment that can detect suspect devices entering a building through the postal system, there are many variables that need to be… Read more »

Up close with explosives

Although checkpoint explosive trace detection is urgently needed, hand-held systems have proved disappointing. But Andrew Goldsmith argues recent technological advances put detection power back into the screeners’ hands   In today’s security climate, security screening officials are always seeking new methods and technologies which can help enhance the screening process, make it more efficient in… Read more »

TSCM in 2014: Watch & learn

Bernie Connor examines the covert surveillance threats faced by officials and business leaders travelling abroad in the age of wearable consumer electronics, and argues that new technologies and methodologies can now combat this covert information capture   A new class of wearable consumer electronic high technology devices has begun to enter the market. The “smart… Read more »

Full service screening

Jonathan Fleming discusses how the latest border screening technology can help tackle corruption, and calls for wider adoption of the “Security Screening as a Service” model   For any entry point into a country or state – whether it is via road, rail, sea or air – security screening operatives are facing an ongoing battle… Read more »

Committed to security

Anthony Tucker-Jones and former Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey discuss the latest national and international security threats, and ask whether British security policy lost its way   ATJ: The terrorist attack in Ottawa last year highlighted flawed security with the Canadian Parliament. Are you content that Westminster is as secure as it can be? NH:… Read more »

Bird’s eye view

Timothy Compston investigates the growing capabilities offered by UAS technology for strategic and tactical border security, and weighs the security threats they pose if misused   Today, unmanned aerial system – or “drone” – technology has developed to the stage where it can provide a powerful force multiplier for military, government, and law enforcement agencies… Read more »

TSCM in 2015 – Part 1

  Watching the watchers With the counter-espionage market still unregulated by the SIA, Dean La-Vey examines the achievements of the industry’s Technical Surveillance Countermeasures Institute which is driving standards and ethics to new heights   In 2003, the newly launched UK Security Industry Authority (SIA) began the process of regulating and licensing the private security… Read more »

Jihad down under

From Woolwich to Ottawa and now Sydney, Anthony Tucker-Jones reports on the ‘lone wolf’ menace spreading around the world   To the world’s media, the Sydney café siege at the end of 2014 seemed to herald the unwelcome arrival of “lone wolf” terrorism to Australia. In reality, over the past decade Australia has not been… Read more »

Ebola and bio-terrorism

As the Ebola epidemic continues to spread in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, Lina Kolesnikova assesses the risk that extremist groups may seek to harness the virus as a terrorist weapon   The latest news on the spread of the Ebola virus has raised significant worries across the security community. The greater frequency with which… Read more »