Those of you who were at the recent IFSEC Global conference may have noticed that I was included in the list of the top 50 influencers in security and fire in the UK for 2017 under the security management and thought leadership category. The criterion applied to being influential is:
- Who has played a key role in driving technological innovation
- Who has been a driving force in changing regulation, standards/guidanceor best practice
- Someone whose insights/opinions are widely respected and which are influential in shaping debatearound industry issues
- Someone who has been instrumental in the success of the organisationor business they lead or are employed by
- Someone who has helped to raise the industry’s profileor been an influential voice in the national media
The list has been running for several years and is determined by both public vote and a panel of judges. It’s set up by IFSEC Global and supported by the British Security Industry Association.
Team work
Whilst I was pleased to be recognised in this way I must admit it is quite humbling. Although, it’s me that has been included in the list I must say that much of what has been achieved in the past year has been due the great team leading the work on the National Surveillance Camera Strategy for England and Wales.
If you have been a regular reader of my blogs you will know that strategy contains 11 work strands 10 of which are led by industry experts who have driven the development of the strategy. Now the strategy is up and running we are now starting deliver what we said we would. A memorandum of understanding has been signed with Information Commissioner, next week we are holding our first horizon scanning workshop and we’ll shortly be publishing our civil engagement plan.
Whole system
The use of surveillance cameras isn’t just about installation, it isn’t just about operation, it isn’t just about maintenance and it isn’t just about collecting data or capturing evidence. It’s all of those things and the strategy takes a ‘whole system’ approach linking everything together so that where there is surveillance it is effective in protecting people and keeping them safe whilst at the same time respecting their rights to privacy.
Over the summer I’m handing my blog over to the strand leads so they can tell you what they are working on, what the challenges and opportunities are and how the strands link together. Please comment on the blogs, ask questions and get involved in the debate.
And in the meantime please follow me on Twitter and don’t forget to sign up for email alerts.
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