EC Cites Role of Standardization in Security Efforts

September 16, 2006 // Published as a news service by IHS

The European Commission (EC) recently adopted a green paper on detection technologies for law enforcement, customs and other security authorities to further enhance the interaction between public and private sectors and help member states acquire the best tools available at the lowest possible cost.

Franco Frattini, EC vice president and commissioner responsible for justice, freedom and security, emphasised the importance of establishing an effective public-private dialogue on security for better focussing investments on standardisation, research, certification and interoperability of detection systems and for transforming research results into useful and applicable tools.

"Recent events in the U.K. have further underlined that detection devices must be continuously improved in order to reflect the ever-changing threat posed by terrorists and criminals and to ensure that people are able to travel safely," said Frattini. "Modern detection technologies have, therefore, an important role to play in the fight against crime and terrorism."

The green paper aims at further stimulating the public-private partnership in order to promote the development of an advanced market in certified detection technology, which should lead to greater availability of products and services at lower cost, more effectiveness and better protection of privacy.

Detection technologies are increasingly used in the daily work of law enforcement authorities to fight terrorism and other forms of crime; they also play an important role in the daily lives of Europeans (for example, boarding airplanes, taking a ferry, attending sports events, and ensuring the safety of drinking water and food supply) as these technologies are used to protect borders and check goods entering the territory of the European Union (EU). Moreover they are essential for guarding private property and providing critical infrastructure.

The Green Paper on Detection Technologies for Law Enforcement, Customs and Other Security Authorities is available online.

ANNEX

Background
In its communication on prevention, preparedness and response to the terrorist attacks of October 2004, the EC set out its counter-terrorism policy, highlighting public-private security dialogue as a tool for private and public sectors to engage in a meaningful dialogue on Europe's security needs.

The Hague Programme: Strengthening freedom, security and justice in the European Union, which was adopted by the European Council in November 2004 and which now constitutes the EU's political programme on justice and home affairs, also highlights the importance of public-private interaction in the fight against organised crime and terrorism.

In November 2005, the EC organised a conference on Public-Private Security Dialogue: Detection Technologies and Associated Technologies in the Fight against Terrorism. The participation of over a hundred representatives from major European business and industry associations and from the public sector attested to the interest of stakeholders in pursuing a policy in this area. The public sector was represented by members of law enforcement, customs and other security authorities. The new green paper is based on the results of that conference, and aims to provide the ingredients for initiating dialogue within the field of detection technologies.

Detection technologies are increasingly used in the daily work of security authorities to fight terrorism and other forms of crime. Detection technologies are widely used to protect passengers when boarding aeroplanes and sports fans when watching their favourite sports events; they are also used to detect dangerous substances in the air, water or food. Security authorities additionally use these technologies to protect borders and check goods entering EU territory. Moreover, detection technologies are essential for guarding private property and providing critical infrastructure.

This green paper aims to find out what role the EU could play to foster detection technologies in the service of the security of its citizens. On the other hand, detection technologies are inherently intrusive into privacy, and their improvement and use needs to be carefully analysed to establish limitations to their intrusiveness, where necessary.

Enhancing the interaction between public and private sectors
Although the role of the EU in areas such as security research and standardisation is clearly established, there is no specific European policy on detection technologies. Therefore, the EC took this initiative to enhance dialogue and create partnership between public and private sectors, allowing for better focussing investment in standardisation, research, certification or interoperability of detection systems and for transforming research results into useful and applicable tools.

Common action and better coordination and information exchange between the relevant entities in Europe are essential to reach this objective. Needs have to be defined better, and both technologically and economically viable solutions brought to the surface. This green paper seeks to find out more about existing good approaches and practices, and to support them and spread them across the EU. This should help promote the development of an advanced market in detection products and security solutions, which in turn should lead to greater availability of products and services at lower cost.

Even through considerable work has been achieved in certain areas in close cooperation with member states, industry and other interested parties, there is still room for an enhanced European policy on detection technologies. Current EC activities in relation to terrorism focus on specific needs for establishing an effective public-private security dialogue. There are a number of activities now underway. The most developed process is in relation to the protection of critical infrastructure. The role of detection technologies and explosives is another area where substantial activity is being pursued.

Detection technology areas being examined
The green paper addresses the following issues:

• Standardisation.
• Certification of tools.
• The exchange of information on the use of new and innovative detection tools.
• The integration of detection systems that are able to detect various substances in another tool or system.
• Information on how best to deploy and use detection tools (to shorten waiting times, increase efficiency, and so on).
• Improvements in the protection of large events.

Detection technologies can be in situ or external; probably the more sophisticated means to deal with some of the security challenges in various scenarios occur when such technologies are integrated into a complex system (such as a transport system). A detection technology can be almost anything used to detect something in a security or safety context, with the focus on law enforcement, customs or security authority, including:

• Hand-held detectors.
• Detection portals.
• Surveillance solutions.
• Detection of biometrics.
• Data- and text-mining tools.
• Other software-based detection tools.

The EC stressed that the design, manufacture and use of detection technologies and associated technologies, together with legislation or other measures aiming to regulate or promote them, must fully comply with the rights of individuals as provided for in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. Particular attention must be paid to compliance with the protection of personal data and the right to private life.

Follow-up
The consultation on the green paper will conclude by the end of 2006. The EC stressed that broad participation of stakeholders from both public and private sectors is essential. Meetings of the task force and other public-private bodies implementing the results of the green paper are then expected to take place in the first half of 2007.

Source: European Commission.