There are well established advantages to using robots in security roles. For example, they can independently perform programmed tasks with minimal human oversight, including conducting routine patrols and doing so cost effectively, more productively than humans since they don’t get tired or bored, and work more safely in hazardous environments. But they can lead to job losses, the initial investment can be substantial, and then there are the privacy threats. Research has shown that industrial robots can be hacked to steal trade secrets, damage equipment, cause bodily harm and corrupt processes. So where does this leave us?

This webinar will discuss:
What are is the potential for using robots in security work?
How can the downsides be best managed?
Are robots a threat to humans?

Panelists
Andrew Seldon – Editor, Smart Security Solutions
Prof Shandré Kim Jansen van Rensburg – Lecturer, University of South Africa
Dr Craig Donald – Director of Advanced Development Applications, Leaderware; Adjunct Associate Professor, Edith Cowan University, Perth; Australia Associate of Super Recognisers International, UK

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2023/06/23/robots-a-security-opportunity-or-a-security-threat/

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Every June, the LGBTQ+ community across the globe organises a range of events to shine a light on the LGBTQ+ community. It is timely then to assess what is happening in the security sector. Are tangible and progressive actions being taken to be truly inclusive? Are the right sort of collaborations taking place and how are they faring?

This webinar we will discuss:
In what ways and how is the LGBTQ+ community becoming visible?
Is the security sector making the workplace more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community? Where are the gaps?
What has been the attitude of the C-suite and how, if at all, is it changing?

Panelists
Satia Rai – CEO, International Professional Security Association
Oliver Lincoln – UK Sales Manager & Chair for Pride Network Group, Securitas UK
Heather MacDonald – Enterprise Account Executive & DEI Advocate at Resolver, a Kroll Business

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2023/06/02/pride-and-the-security-sector-celebrating-our-lgbtq-employees/

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Smart cities have long been heralded as a definitive opportunity to harness technological developments for business efficiency and human contentment. In some quarters they appear to be discussed as an unqualified good. But are they? Where there is technology there are risks of security weaknesses, and the bigger the strategic use the greater the potential for calamity, don’t smart cities provide for just that example?

This webinar will discuss:
Can the technologies used in smart cities be trusted?
How great and serious are the security threats posed by smart cities?
Is the security sector up to the challenges posed?

Panelists
J. Kelly Stewart – President & CEO, Newcastle Consulting
James Willison – Project & Engagement Manager, IoT Security Foundation
Lina Kolesnikova – Security & Crisis Management Consultant

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2023/05/30/how-great-are-the-security-threats-in-smart-cities-are-they-a-catastrophe-in-waiting/

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There are many offences against wildlife and they can be serious. For example, illegal wildlife markets are being exploited by international organised crime groups because they are seen as low risk and high reward. The consequences are serious, the widespread problem of illegal fishing is just one example where the impact has been under employed fishing crews turning to drug trafficking or being exploited on the high seas. Sometimes investment in tackling offences sometimes comes up against investment decisions about conservation. Meanwhile, although the protection of wildlife is not a common discussion item amongst law enforcement authorities and the security sector, a range of preventive strategies are in operation to tackle a varied range of offence types, some that have worked better than others.

This webinar will discuss:
The scale and range of wildlife offending
The consequences and the potential remedies
The areas where tackling offences are working and the gaps where more focus is needed

Panelists
William Moreto – Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, University of Central Florida
Melanie Flynn – Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Policing, University of Huddersfield
Georgie Barnard – CEO, West End Security Group

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2023/05/12/crime-against-wildlife-what-is-being-done-and-it-is-working/

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There is a wealth of understandable enthusiasm for promoting ED&I in business, morally, ethically and also, and for business this is important, commercially too.  The question is, how strong is the evidence that ED&I is good for business? Where does that come from and what does it suggest? Then there are the practical ways of measuring it, how can this be done meaningfully? Can we trust organisations to say they are following ED&I? How would we know if they were or were not?

This webinar will discuss:
• What is the evidence base linking good ED&I practice to improved commercial performance?
• How can good ED&I practice be measured?
• How can we trust the measurements, or should we do so?

Panelists:
• Sarah Cork – EDI Chair, The City Security Council
• Arevika Stepanian – Director of Corporate Relations, STM Group
• Barbara Okumu – HR and Administration Manager, Lady Askari

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2023/04/28/how-are-you-measuring-edi-against-business-performance-what-are-the-real-benefits/

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The notion that there are physical security products and, separately, digital security products belongs in a museum. These days, all electronic physical security products are cyber ones too. And while that generates enormous advantages, it also has limits; for starters it creates security weaknesses. Research around the Internet of Things (IoT) has illustrated the benefits and drawbacks while highlighting that there are big knowledge gaps that offenders are exploiting.  But how common are these gaps? How serious are they? Where can we look for remedies?

In this webinar, we discussed:
Common vulnerabilities in networked security products and how to remediate them
The key developments in protecting physical security products from digital weaknesses
The future including the role for manufacturers and governments

Chair: Tom Reeve

Panellists:
Hollie Hennessy – Senior Analyst, IoT Cybersecurity at Omdia
Iain Cundy – Technology consultant, Section 20 Solutions
Leon Molchanovsky – Technology consultant, Galaxy Innovations

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2023/04/20/cyber-crime-the-cyber-security-implications-of-physical-security-products/

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Fraud is now the most common offence. The sense is that offenders have adapted quicker than those responsible for preventing and responding to crime. There was once a view that suffering financial loss was much less traumatic than suffering physically and that is gradually being challenged. But where are we with managing the response to being victimised? What is being done and where are the gaps?

This webinar will discuss:
• Why are there so many fraud victims?
• What support do victims need, is getting the money back the priority?
• What does justice for victims look like?

Chair: Dr. Janice Goldstraw-White – Researcher, Perpetuity Research

Panelists:
• Bernadette Lawrie – Financial Abuse Safeguarding Officer, Sussex Police
• Lisa Mills – Senior Fraud Manager, Victim Support

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2023/03/31/falling-victim-to-fraudsters-how-do-you-stop-it-and-what-do-you-do-if-victimised/

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Around the world ‘Food and Agriculture’ is often designated a Critical Infrastructure Sector. It is diverse – e.g. crops, livestock, poultry, seafood – and the threats are as diverse as climate change, international conflicts and theft and fraud including by organised criminals. Clearly this is an area where security professionals have had to step up, but how well protected is our food supply?  What are the risks and are we sure we are preparing and responding effectively? How can increased information sharing between & amongst the public & private sectors help to reduce these risks?

This webinar will highlight these issues and discuss:
• The importance of private/public partnerships in protecting food terrorism 
• Improving information sharing – the need for a global food and agriculture centric information sharing analysis center (ISAC)
• The role of transportation security/cargo theft mitigation in reducing threats to the food supply/global strategies to improve a supply chain of a competent workforce

Panelists:
• Megan Francies – LambWeston; Food Protection Manager | Intentional Adulteration & Food Defense; ASIS Food Defense and Agriculture Security (FDASC)  (steering committee member)
• Mark Wittrock – Assistant Director – Health, Food and Agriculture Resilience, Office of Health Security, U.S. Dept of Homeland Security
• David Goldenberg – Univ. of California, Davis; InfraGard National Sector Security and Resilience Program (NSSRP), Food and Agriculture Sector, Chief
• Andy Griffiths – European Regional Security Director at Firmenich; ASIS FDASC, vice chair; coordinator, Fake Carrier Intelligence Group (LinkedIn)

Summariser: Jason Bashura – MPH, RS Sr. Manager, Global Food Defense; PepsiCo; coordinator, Food Defense Consortium; ASIS FDASC Chair; InfraGard Food and Ag NSSRP

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2023/03/17/food-protection-the-ultimate-security-challenge/

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There are well rehearsed benefits of whistleblowing. For the organisation is not least the opportunity to learn about risks that might otherwise not be identified, and being seen to be following good corporate governance. But what about for the whistle-blower? How can and do organisations prevent victimisation and detriment? How common are these? Once reported, how does an organisation balance a need to protect the whistle-blower against the need to fully investigate incidents? Can whistleblowing be an expensive waste of time that merely encourages staff grievances? Or does it provide an essential crime prevention service?

This webinar will discuss:
• The benefits and limitations of whistleblowing
• The potential implications for whistle-blowers, what happens if they are victimised?
• The future of whistleblowing as a risk management strategy

Panelists:
• Andrew Pepper-Parsons – Head of Policy, Protect
• David Lewis – Professor of Employment Law, Middlesex University London
• Wayne Duvenage – CEO, OUTA

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2023/02/10/whistleblowing-what-are-the-benefits-and-the-dangers-for-the-whistle-blower/

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BIDs, which operate under various names first grew to prominence in Canada and the USA and have since expanded across the world. In essence they involve businesses coming together to improve the local and business trading environment with mixed success. Certainly, the role for security varies, sometimes being (at best) marginal and other times core to improving trade and the local communities they serve. Why is this? What needs to change to enhance the role of security?

This webinar will discuss:
• What role can and does security play in enhancing trading conditions?
• Why is the role of security seemingly so often marginal?
• What needs to change to show how good security is core to effective trading?

Panelists:
• Chris Turner – CEO, British BIDs
• Grant Stewart – Senior Projects Manager, Essential Edinburgh
• Karol Doherty – BID Security Manager, WeAreWaterloo BID

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2023/01/27/business-improvement-districts-are-they-examples-of-security-shining-or-security-failing/

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