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IFSEC, IFSEC and ... wait for it ... IFSEC

You could say we are in IFSEC overload here at Hi-Tech Security Solutions. First there is the preparation for our stand at the local show, known as IFSEC South Africa Securex 2009 to those not on a first name basis. Do come and visit.

Then we also put together a brief preview to the show in this month’s issue. I say brief because we could not possibly do justice to all the goodies the show will offer in a few pages. We have, however, also put together the show’s visitor guide with a bunch of additional information you will find invaluable. The guide will be handed out at the show, so be sure to look out for it when you attend South Africa’s premier (that is a polite way of saying South Africa’s only) real security exhibition.

And if that was not enough, we went off to wander about IFSEC UK in the thriving metropolis of Birmingham. What a show that was. Even though everyone complained about smaller stands, fewer visitors (which was a bit of a cheek given the crushing hordes on the Tuesday and Wednesday of the 4-day show) and the price of coffee, it was a great experience to gain an overview of the security market in the UK and globally. We even met some South Africans who still lived in South Africa wandering around the five halls of exhibitors.

IFSEC South Africa Securex 2009 will be the acid test, but I think it is clear that when it comes to security, we can slug it out with the best of them. In fact, after one presentation we were assured that the training and certification standards we have here in SA are actually better and ahead of those the UK imposes. Perhaps we have a more violent type of criminal here.

Interestingly enough, one area where the UK is far ahead of us is in the area of employing licensed security guards. Info4security.com reports that an ex-director of a security firm in the UK has been given “an 18-month community punishment order and ordered to pay £20 000 in costs [that is about R280 000] after pleading guilty to 33 offences ... of supplying or employing unlicensed security guards....”

Imagine that happening in SA.

We will be reporting on IFSEC’s UK and RSA shows in the July issue. Deadlines made it impossible to comment on the UK show in this issue. At the same time we will also be reporting back on the Retail Risk 2009 conference held in Cape Town and Johannesburg at the end of May. The theme of this year’s conference is 2010 and what retailers can expect during and after the soccer world cup. It appears that soccer is only a small part of 2010.

On a final note, we are in the process of revamping the look and feel of Hi-Tech Security Solutions, so look out for a new, funky magazine in the near future and an enhanced Web presence. Good things come to those who wait, they say, so in the meanwhile enjoy this month’s issue.

Andrew Seldon

Editor

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