In December, London will play host to the 13th annual Transport Security Expo. Taking place at London's Olympia, it showcases the very best that the global security world has to offer in security systems, solutions and responses to threats to the world's borders, roads, rails, skies, seas and public spaces. Transport Security Expo is always a crucial date in the diary for anyone involved in security, however, this year promises to be the best event yet for finding out about a wide range of brand new technologies, developments and innovative approaches.

Support for the event has been growing year on year, thanks in no small part to the organisers' collaboration with the Home Office and UKTI DSO. Increasingly, Transport Security Expo is being seen as an important platform to help UK safety and security businesses strengthen their successes in the export market; delegates come from all over the world to learn about what's new in the industry. All the relevant transport sectors come together to tackle security issues facing today's transport networks, wherever they are. So, what is new this year?

Unprecedented foreign support

For the first time ever, Transport Security Expo 2015 has attracted more than 30 foreign government delegates from across the world - from Angola to Venezuela. Four of the delegations are representing newly formed governments, which is an encouraging and exciting development for the UK government's ongoing initiative to increase international co-operation in and knowledge of global security and safety measures.

The government delegations will have access to an exclusive, business-class lounge, where they will be able to meet with key industry contacts, exhibitors, members of the press and fellow government representatives. A main objective of the event will be to match the foreign delegations with the right exhibitors, who will have the opportunity to establish useful conversations with them, and hopefully carry on developing longer working relationships for mutual and international benefit.

The foreign delegations will also take advantage of a full programme of events, product demonstrations, tours and seminars that cover all of Transport Security Expo's main security sectors, including aviation, marine, rail, major events transport and border control. It is hoped that they will be encouraged and inspired by the plethora of British companies that are currently leading the way in global security solutions, many of which will be exhibiting at Transport Security Expo.

Borders and perimeters

The government delegations will join other Transport Security Expo attendees as the first to watch the launch of several next-generation transport security solutions. One brand new experience for delegates will focus on the future of international border control. Several technically astounding demonstrations will showcase major advances in facial recognition, iris capture and imaging systems.

In addition, a new World of Perimeter Security interactive tour, in association with Allens Total Perimeter Security, will make its public debut this year, taking visitors through how to protect the perimeter of any critical national installation. Crucial developments in specialist fences, walls and gates, vehicle barriers and blockers, as well as CCTV and intrusion detection will be covered by the tour, which will begin with a video briefing and end with a question and answer session.

Peter Jones, CEO of Transport Security Expo organisers, Nineteen Events says of the new, interactive tour: "By creating the World of Perimeter Security, we're giving high-level decision makers a unique opportunity to view complete perimeter security solutions in one dedicated area."

Maritime security

Another area that this year's Transport Security Expo is focusing on more than ever before is maritime security. As safety measures step up across the world in the rail, aviation and road transport sectors, as a direct response to increased terrorism activity, so the maritime sector must also be ready to face more and more attempts to disrupt transport and public safety. Not to mention the movement of cargo at sea and in port. Piracy is showing no signs of diminishing, with at least 53 seafarers reported as being taken hostage this year in attacks off the coast of West Africa alone. Many of the event's exhibitors will be focusing on maritime safety, showcasing new products and approaches to the problems of piracy, armed robbery of ships and other concerning practices taking place at sea.

Additionally, those interested in maritime-focussed exhibitors can also attend one or more of a number of marine specialist conference sessions and seminars. Running at the same time as the exhibition, the conference programme includes experts in maritime safety, who will discuss relevant issues and facilitate debates on how to act in the future. Many will argue that, as acts of terrorism and other security threats increase in sophistication, so must the responses of those charged with keeping ships, harbours and ports safe and secure. Increasingly, the issue of cyber security is also gaining in prominence, with tight controls over internet-based communications and operational systems now more crucial to have in place than ever before.

Pulling together

The main theme of Transport Security Expo 2015 is not brand new for this year. Nonetheless, it is the event's key focus, and the global security and safety profession's most valuable defence. Put simply, it is the importance of working together, approaching safety and security issues and solutions collaboratively. A winning trinity of government, industry and academia brings together the best of each sector and that is exactly what Transport Security Expo seeks to encourage.

One especially enthusiastic supporter of this three-way collaborative approach to safety and security world-wide is former First Sea Lord and Government Minister responsible for security under Gordon Brown's premiership, Admiral The Right Honourable Lord West of Spithead. He is well aware of how transport is a prime target for those intent on terrorism and has long called for greater partnership working to combat their attempts to cause mass mayhem and devastation.

Lord West says of the world's current security threats: "There’s no doubt that terrorists like to focus their attacks on transport hubs and transport systems. We know this from the attacks there have actually been and the ones we’ve been able to unwind before they’ve happened. Therefore, anyone involved in the transport industry needs to be fully up to date where security is concerned because the threat is actually growing."

Lord West sits on Transport Security Expo's Advisory Board. He believes that anyone involved in security must make sure they come along, promising that they will see: "... the most joined-up ways of combating the terrorism that seems to be infesting the world."

He also states: "There will be features that bring technologies and products from a lot of different companies together to show how when you take a composite view, you can make transport systems much safer for the travelling public and make the actual assets themselves more secure."

Final word goes to Peter Jones, who sums up the importance of attending the event as follows: "Transport Security Expo 2015 already has an excellent and long-standing track record, but this year it promises to be a particularly important, high end, transport security event, with Government and industry coming together to tackle big transport security issues with a genuinely joined-up perspective. Anyone involved in the transport security sector who is serious about engaging with top-level, international decision makers absolutely has to be involved in Transport Security Expo 2015."

Transport Security Expo 2015 runs from 2 to 3 December at London Olympia. For a list of exhibitors and details of how to register and book tickets, visit: www.transec.com