New industry body launched to enhance UK national security

London, UK., 29 March 2007 - UK Home Secretary John Reid welcomed the launch today of the Security and Resilience Industry Suppliers Council (RISC).  Dr Reid emphasised that the private sector has a vital role in countering the UK terrorism threat.

He said: “We must have the capacity and competence to harness technology in more agile and decisive ways. That is why the partnership offered by RISC with Government is so important.  As an alliance of trade associations, suppliers, academia and think tanks, I know RISC offers a powerful channel of communication between Government and markets in security and resilience from which we all need to benefit. I welcome this fresh initiative.” 

Launching RISC, Chair Stephen Phipson said:

“Through the formation of RISC the UK security and resilience sector will act as one, in concert with Government, to deliver a significantly fortified frontline of security and resilience.”  

RISC is an alliance of suppliers, trade associations and academics.  It provides a single industry voice and channel of communication for Government on strategic issues affecting national security and resilience.  This will foster unprecedented Industry-Government partnership and dialogue to counter international and domestic terrorism.

Following a meeting Dr Reid and Mr Phipson said that RISC’s work will deliver in three key areas: 

Help make the UK’s resilience more versatile and agile.
A long-term relationship between RISC and Government will yield knowledge of capability that is needed - today and tomorrow. This will reduce the time it takes to move from identifying new problem-solving technology to getting it into the field.   RISC will start work on filling the capability gaps that exist - in advance of, and not after, attacks are launched.

Help better define R&D priorities
R & D resources are limited, be they Government or Industry, and the range of potential threats large.   We will focus on key priorities and ensure we allocate the most appropriate resources to the task in hand.    Working together as RISC, with the Government as our partner, we can develop an R&D ‘Road Map’. This will put us in a much stronger position for the future.
 
Help deliver a competitive and innovative UK Industry
By introducing longer-term procurement plans, underpinned by clear guidance, Government will incentivise industry to invest its resources and capabilities into long-term UK projects.  Flowing from this will be a pipeline of R&D and products capable of meeting whatever risks intelligence is suggesting and responding to whatever the incident might be.

RISC will immediately embark on a number of key priorities, including:

• Developing an ‘R&D roadmap’ with Government that will ensure industry investment is better aligned with Government strategic priorities; and

• A strategy to safely deliver major public events, including the 2012 Olympics.

RISC Chairman Mr Stephen Phipson concluded: 

“RISC will be as financially strong as its corporate members, as ground-breaking as its best scientific members and as intuitive as its academic members….All of this will create a competitive marketplace that allows the ownership of critical technologies to remain within the UK. The dual prize will be stronger economic growth and enhanced national security”.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:
Mark Hutcheon, RISC, Tel: 020 7758 2818  M: 07739 181 352


Notes to Editor
1.  RISC was established in 2006.  Over 2000 companies or 80% of the supply base are represented through its members, from prime contractors and global leaders through to Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups. 

2. RISC Members include:

Trade Associations
Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers
British Security Industry Association
Defence Manufacturers Association
Intellect
NBC UK
Society of British Aerospace Companies

Academic Institutions
RUSI
Chatham House

Industry
BAESystems
EDS Defence
ESRI UK
Nexor
QinetiQ
SELEX Sistemi Integrati
SERCO
Smiths Detection
Thales UK

See link to Chairman's speech at launch event.

[RISC Chairman's launch speech]