Posts By: Jacob Charles

Lost

Following the sudden disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370, John Chisholm asks whether poor cabin security, baggage screening or passport control could be provide clues as to its whereabouts   It probably was not aliens. It is worth getting that out of the way first when discussing the potential fate of Flight MH370, whose fate… Read more »

The future of X-ray?

Frederic Brouiller discusses the benefits and usage of real-time tomography technology for explosive detection in the aviation industry   Throughout the years there have been a number of well-documented cases of severe threats or even acts of terrorism that have jeopardised the security of airports and airliners across the globe. These dangers have originated from… Read more »

The Chechen Bin Laden

Following the news that Chechen Jihadist Doku Umarov has been killed, Anthony Tucker-Jones charts the rise and fall of Russia’s most wanted terrorist   While all eyes have been on Russia’s Winter Olympics and the gathering storm clouds over Ukraine, in the Russian North Caucasus it is business as usual. The violence that has blighted… Read more »

The power of surprise

Peter Stolwerk outlines the risks faced by operatives during tactical breaching operations, and explores how hydraulic breaching tools can save lives and help increase conviction rates   Every day, police forces all over the world are faced with suspects who may be hiding in houses or business premises. In many cases these suspects are armed,… Read more »

Cracking Fallujah

As Iraqi government troops once again fight for control of the city of Fallujah, Anthony Tucker-Jones reports on the growing chaos in Iraq’s troubled Sunni triangle   Recent fighting for control of the Iraqi city of Fallujah is symptomatic of a much wider al-Qaeda threat that is slowly worsening right across the Levant and the… Read more »

Built-in security

Chris Driver-Williams examines how security and blast-mitigation can be designed into otherwise vulnerable buildings to limit the effects of terrorist attacks   As he neared the end of the bustling rush-hour journey through Downtown Oklohoma City, the former soldier-turned security guard reached down into the foot-well and calmly lit the end of the burning-fuse. He… Read more »

Two dogs and a bone

As tensions continue to grow over the Russian occupation of the Crimea, John Chisholm assesses the ethnic and political factors which threaten to pull the Ukraine apart   Ukraine has now had two liberal revolutions. The second proved bloodier, more drawn-out and more contentious than the first. With both the European Union and Russia pulling… Read more »

Eyes on the operation

Terry White discusses how HD wireless video cameras and satellite communications can transform surveillance and security operations, giving immediate and actionable intelligence to commanders   While global defence spending is on the rise, many governments and organisations around the world are still facing increasingly constrained budgets. At the same time, surveillance is becoming increasingly complex… Read more »

A second look at cargo

John Leach examines the latest dual-view screening technology and welcomes forthcoming legislation which will improve the security of freight shipping and handling   Dual-view X-ray technology has been available for several years now, and is widely seen in the aviation and freight transport industries as the future of bulk screening. But new legislation due to… Read more »

The standards approach

Alastair Henman argues that governments, standards bodies, manufacturers, installers and customers of security measures must all pull together behind common accreditation and test standards in the global war on terror and organised crime.   Nation states have fiercely defended their borders historically in the belief it will keep their citizens safe and secure. That is… Read more »