Big Issue Magazine - Inside the Counter Terror Expo
2
4 THE BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH · 6-12 JUNE 2011 LOCAL FEATURE news Of the men in suits queuing to gain access to the Olympia Conference Centre in London recently, some were from the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and the Ministry of Defence, others government intelligence agents from America, Japan, India and Pakistan. Security guards lined the walls looking anxious. Inside the hall was the largest counter terrorism exhibition in the world, with some of the latest tools used by governments in the so-called war on terror on display. “Four men in a white transit van have just gathered by the bridge at the south of the car park,” came a call over one guard’s radio. “Surveillance is required.” Dictatorships In the exhibition hall beyond the lines of security, 400 companies showcased their products to government officials and decision makers in the multi-billion pound terrorism industry, which has boomed since the Twin Towers attacks in 2001. Many exhibitors had been criticised for supplying arms and surveillance technology to repressive dictatorships in the Middle East and North Africa. Outside the hall demonstrators held signs that said “Stop evil trade” and one man was dressed as a Guantánamo Bay inmate with shackles round his wrists. Only those affiliated with the government or defence industry could gain entry to the exhibition. Members of the public and much of the media were excluded. After rigorous screening I had managed to gain a pass as an “industry journalist”. During the two-day exhibition I always Behind the security lines at the counter-terror exhibition Counter Bomber, one of the products on sale at the Counter Terror Exhibition. Photo: Ryan Gallagher expected to be tapped on the shoulder and ushered out the back door. But it never happened. Next to a cafeteria in the exhibition hall selling falafel wraps and tuna melt paninis, there was excitement about a suicide bomber detector, flying CCTV cameras and x-ray scanners capable of seeing through walls. Just inside the main entrance, a man dressed in a full bomb disposal outfit was demonstrating how to disarm an improvised explosive device. Standing by a large contraption named Counter Bomber at one stall, former US Marine JJ Bare explained how the device could detect suicidal terrorists with explosives strapped to their bodies. “If you’re a human being with clothes on and you have a suicide vest or any sort of vest that explodes or potentially explodes, your radar return is distinctly different,” he said. “We exploit that to determine whether you’re a threat or not.” Suicide bombers Bare said Counter Bomber was being used in Afghanistan and Iraq by American troops and had so far “exceeded all thresholds” in terms of its success. He said there had been much interest from the Ministry of Defence in purchasing the device, which could be used outside airports to detect potential suicide bombers trying to board aeroplanes. “It’s very timely,” he said. “It’s an unfortunate fact of life that people are willing to blow themselves up to kill other people. If I could have picked a different trade to be in, then I would probably do it. But this is a need.” At another stall, Canadian developer Oculus was showcasing surveillance software to track movements and relationships between people through the monitoring of mobile phone calls, emails, text messages, financial transactions and social networks. The software, Geotime, is used by the US military and has been purchased by the Metropolitan Police as well as Northumbria University. “Once I know where you’re at in time, where you’ve come from and how long you were there, I can work out usually what you’re doing,” said Curtis Garton, Oculus product management director. “We can collect data from all sorts of BITN 879_04,05 (News):BITN 759_04,05 (News) 3/6/11 13:53 Page 4
-
Upload
ryan-gallagher -
Category
Documents
-
view
34 -
download
1
description
A report from behind the security lines at the world's largest counter-terror exhibition in London
Transcript of Big Issue Magazine - Inside the Counter Terror Expo
4 THE BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH · 6-12 JUNE 2011
LOCAL FEATURE
news
Of the men in suits queuing togain access to the OlympiaConference Centre in Londonrecently, some were from theSecret Intelligence Service(MI6) and the Ministry ofDefence, others governmentintelligence agents fromAmerica, Japan, India andPakistan.
Security guards lined thewalls looking anxious. Insidethe hall was the largest counterterrorism exhibition in theworld, with some of the latesttools used by governments inthe so-called war on terror ondisplay. “Four men in a whitetransit van have just gathered bythe bridge at the south of the carpark,” came a call over oneguard’s radio. “Surveillance isrequired.”
DictatorshipsIn the exhibition hall beyondthe lines of security, 400companies showcased theirproducts to government officialsand decision makers in themulti-billion pound terrorismindustry, which has boomedsince the Twin Towers attacks in2001.
Many exhibitors had beencriticised for supplying armsand surveillance technology torepressive dictatorships in theMiddle East and North Africa.Outside the hall demonstratorsheld signs that said “Stop eviltrade” and one man was dressedas a Guantánamo Bay inmatewith shackles round his wrists.
Only those affiliated with thegovernment or defence industrycould gain entry to theexhibition. Members of thepublic and much of the mediawere excluded.
After rigorous screening I hadmanaged to gain a pass as an“industry journalist”. During thetwo-day exhibition I always
Behind the security lines at thecounter-terror exhibition
Counter Bomber, one of the products on sale at the Counter Terror Exhibition. Photo: Ryan Gallagher
expected to be tapped on theshoulder and ushered out theback door. But it neverhappened.
Next to a cafeteria in theexhibition hall selling falafelwraps and tuna melt paninis,there was excitement about asuicide bomber detector, flyingCCTV cameras and x-rayscanners capable of seeingthrough walls. Just inside themain entrance, a man dressed ina full bomb disposal outfit wasdemonstrating how to disarm animprovised explosive device.
Standing by a largecontraption named CounterBomber at one stall, former USMarine JJ Bare explained howthe device could detect suicidalterrorists with explosivesstrapped to their bodies.
“If you’re a human being withclothes on and you have a
suicide vest or any sort of vestthat explodes or potentiallyexplodes, your radar return isdistinctly different,” he said.“We exploit that to determinewhether you’re a threat or not.”
Suicide bombersBare said Counter Bomber wasbeing used in Afghanistan andIraq by American troops andhad so far “exceeded allthresholds” in terms of itssuccess. He said there had beenmuch interest from the Ministryof Defence in purchasing thedevice, which could be usedoutside airports to detectpotential suicide bombers tryingto board aeroplanes.
“It’s very timely,” he said. “It’san unfortunate fact of life thatpeople are willing to blowthemselves up to kill otherpeople. If I could have picked a
different trade to be in, then I would probably do it. But thisis a need.”
At another stall, Canadiandeveloper Oculus wasshowcasing surveillancesoftware to track movementsand relationships betweenpeople through the monitoringof mobile phone calls, emails,text messages, financialtransactions and socialnetworks. The software,Geotime, is used by the USmilitary and has been purchasedby the Metropolitan Police aswell as Northumbria University.
“Once I know where you’re atin time, where you’ve comefrom and how long you werethere, I can work out usuallywhat you’re doing,” said CurtisGarton, Oculus productmanagement director. “We cancollect data from all sorts of
BITN 879_04,05 (News):BITN 759_04,05 (News) 3/6/11 13:53 Page 4
Manchester homeless charityBarnabus has seen a 50 per centrise in the number of peopleseeking its help this year.
Barnabus attributes the rise tothe effects of the downturn inthe economy and the spendingcuts it has led to.
The Christian charity’s stocksof clothing and supplies to helpthe homeless are dwindling andit has launched an appeal toreplenish them, helped by localmedia companies.
Former Miss Cheshire HollyIkin stars in an advert (pictured)shot at Photolink Studios andmade by creative agency TheKings Arms. The advert ran onthe video screens at PiccadillyGardens, with the space donatedby Forrest Media.
Peter Green, founder ofBarnabus, said: “I can’t stresshow important it is for thehomeless to have clean and dryclothing to give them some self-
respect and dignity. Due to theincrease of people seeking ourhelp, the reduction in localservices and the harsh winter,our stocks are very low again.
“It is vital we get clothing andshoes, not just for the summerbut to build up our suppliesahead of the winter. Any itemsthat aren’t appropriate for thehomeless will raise muchneeded funds through our owncharity shop.”
KEVIN GOPAL
56-12 JUNE 2011 · THE BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH
PENSIONS MEETINGBolton TUC has organised a publicmeeting, Hands Off Our Pensions,on 15 June. The meeting takes placein the run-up to industrial actionover changes to pensions by civilservice trade union PCS andeducation unions NUT, ATL & UCU.Unions are preparing for a one-daystrike on 30 June. The meeting is at6.30pm at the Lancaster Suite,Bolton Town Hall.
LETS SWAPA new way to swap services isoffering Mancunians theopportunity to save money whilsthelping the community.Manchester LETS (Local ExchangeTrading Scheme) is a system forexchanging goods and serviceswithout money. Users earn unitsof an alternative currency (the M)by providing something forsomeone else, like a lift to thesupermarket, and spend them onservices they need, like havingtheir clothes repaired. Sign up viamanchesterlets.org or call Sarahon 07906 700114.
SOLAR SWITCH-ONThousands of Merseyside homescould be fitted with solar panels aspart of a huge drive to retrofitaccommodation that will helpresidents save money and benefitthe environment. Twelve sociallandlords and four Merseysidecouncils have joined Project Viridis,which is being co-ordinated byLiverpool Mutual Homes andLiverpool City Council. Consultantsare carrying out a feasibility studyinto fitting the panels as the firstpart of Project Viridis.
CARE CONSULTATIONLocal people can have their sayabout changes to contributionstowards non-residential socialcare in Sheffield. The city councilis consulting on the changes butthe consultation will not affecthow stays in care homes arecharged for. Email your opinionsto [email protected], phone 0114 2735758 or complete a questionnaireat www.sheffield.gov.uk/fairercontributions. Deadline is 10 June.
Got a story? Contact 0161 831 5563 or email: [email protected] News in brief
Surveillance showcase
Homeless charity’s appeal
Olympics, some exhibitors wereconcerned about a lack ofinvestment from the government.
Nuclear decontaminationMichael McNulty, marketingdirector of UAVSI, whichmanufactures remote controlledCCTV devices attached to miniairplanes and helicopters, saidhesitance to invest in histechnology led him to believe theauthorities were more concernedabout flying in celebrities thanmonitoring the capital during thegames.
Jenny Mottram, who workswith a company specialising innuclear decontamination, saidthe government was moreinterested in contracting outdecontamination services thaninvesting in it directly.
“With all the cuts at themoment it has been quitedifficult across the industry,” shesaid.
“With the Olympics they reallyneed to think about the potentialthreat of chemical or nuclearattack.”
RYAN GALLAGHER
different sources. Yourcellphone collects positionaldata; it could be emails thatyou’ve sent, instant messages,whatever it is. We show allthose different types of data inone place.”
Olympic fearsOther exhibitors sold hiddencamera devices and CCTVcapable of recognising the facesof known suspects or criminals.Critics say such technology canbe used against innocent peopleand is another example of a“surveillance state”, but othersargue it is necessary to protectagainst the threat of terrorism.
One company, UltrafineTechnology, showcased a covertsurveillance device that itclaimed could see throughwalls.
“Sometimes it’s vital to knowwhat’s happening on the otherside of a wall,” said Ultrafine’smanaging director, JohnPatterson, in a presentation topotential buyers. “The solutionis to drill through and inserttiny cameras and microphones.”
Conferences and workshops atthe exhibition focused onpreparations for the LondonOlympics in 2012. SusanHemming, head of the CrownProsecution Service’s counterterrorism division, warned ofthe potential dangers.
“The biggest challenge the UKfaces currently is managing therisk in the run-up to the 2012Olympics,” she said. “We couldsee the targeting of athletes orspectators from countries thatwe don’t traditionally deal with.
“The authorities are nevergoing to be 100 per centsuccessful every time, either inpreventing an incident orprosecuting the perpetrators.
She added: “London isarguably the most multiculturaland diverse city, with thehighest overriding general threatlevel from an Olympic games inrecent times.”
Athough there were warningsabout the need for increasedvigilance in preparation for the
The Counter Terror Exhibition (CTE)is an annual event attended byleading experts from government,military, security services, lawenforcement and academia.Showcasing the latest insurveillance technologies, theevent’s organisers say it brings“focus and clarity” to the complextask of “protecting people andassets from the threat presentedby international terrorism”.
But critics disagree. Protest groupCampaign Against the Arms Trade(CAAT) claims the CTE is an example
of an “encroaching surveillancesociety”, and earlier this year calledfor a protest outside the event,saying it hoped to “expose theexploitation of fear for profit”.
Kaye Stearman, a spokespersonfor CAAT, said: “There is a definitelink between so-called counter-terrorand more conventional arms fairs. Asmilitary budgets are cut – at least inwestern countries – both militaryand governments will be looking tocheaper civilian-type technologies,including electronic and surveillanceequipment and services.”
BITN 879_04,05 (News):BITN 759_04,05 (News) 3/6/11 13:53 Page 5
