International Security Expo 2024 provided a rare experience and global hub for over 10,000 security professionals.

This year’s International Security Expo, at Olympia Events in London on 24-25 September 2024, was the most successful edition yet!  

A record number of security professionals attended the event, with 10,034 visitors from over 90 countries creating an extremely exciting buzz in the Grand Hall of Olympia Events, showing how the event truly is a global hub for the security industry. 

Visitors represented a huge breadth of the sector, coming from critical national infrastructure, transport hubs, venues, major events, government, military & defence, law enforcement, the public & private sectors, as well as those working on international and homeland security. 

The place to find innovation in security 

Over 300 security brands showcased a wide array of products and solutions covering the full range that the industry has to offer.

Many exhibitors used the event as a means to launch new products, share all-new technologies and reveal updates being made to existing products. 

This year saw the launch of the inaugural Innovation Awards & Trail, aimed at highlighting and celebrating the latest cutting-edge solutions intended to keep us all safe and secure.

The winner, QUICKBLOCK Defence, was chosen by a judging panel comprised of senior industry figures from the International Security Expo Advisory Council, who were most impressed by this rapid-assembly system using lightweight steel and composite ballistic material for military and security use.

Each under-7kg block offers multi-hit ballistic and blast protection, requires minimal training and can be deployed within minutes. 

The judges had the difficult task of whittling down a wide number of entries from exhibitors to create a shortlist of just ten entries, with visitors guided around the event to see for themselves the incredible levels of innovation that’s coming from all corners of the industry. 

Unrivalled insights from exceptional speakers 

For many years International Security Expo has attracted an exceptional range of talks and speakers and this year was no different, with presentations delivered across both the Global Counter Terror & Security Summit and the International Security & Resilience Conference.  

The theatres were packed across both days, as visitors flocked to talks they wouldn’t hear elsewhere. 

On the Summit, the new UK Minister of State for Security, Dan Jarvis MBE MP, travelled down from the Labour Party Conference in order to deliver his first public address since taking on the role over the Summer, where he discussed the new Government’s security priorities and emphasised the importance of the link between government and industry to not just strengthen national security but also economic prosperity. 

This theme continued with a talk from Abu Ahmed, Head of JSaRC (Joint Security and Resilience Centre) and a panel discussing security as a global business, with Anita Friend, Head of DASA (Defence and Security Accelerator), Tracy Buckingham, Deputy Director of Security & Cyber Security Exports at UKDSE DBT and Victor Hoskins, President & CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority in the US.  

Other Government speakers on the Summit included Shaun Hipgrave, Director Protect and Prepare, CBRNE, Science & Technology at the UK Home Office’s Homeland Security Group, talking about this essential Government department’s priorities, Jon Savell, the new Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Counter Terrorism Policing, a Senior Officer from the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and speakers from NaCTSO (National Counter Terrorism Security Office). 

A realities of terror panel featured Supt. Amanda King, Head of NaCTSO and Debbie Bartlett, Deputy Director Protect & Prepare at the UK Home Office discussing the upcoming Martyn’s Law legislation, whilst this theme continued with a talk from Westminster Bridge attack survivor Travis Frain OBE, who also chaired a panel featuring multiple speakers who gave their unique perspectives on how best to counter terrorism, support the victims of these attacks and begin to build a safer world.  

Other topics covered on the Summit included OSINT, counter-UAS technologies, planning for Ukraine’s reconstruction and how cyber security is intrinsically linked to terrorism. 

On the Conference, sponsored by CSL & Hirsch, aviation security was a key theme with a talk about the future of aviation security from Khaled Alanazi from Red Sea Global; Ken Munroe from Pentest Partners talked about hacking planes, whilst the CAAi (Civil Aviation Authority International) discussed the Global Aviation Security Plan (GASeP).  

Fay Tenet, Deputy Director of Security Liaison for The Royal Household, looked at the 2017 terrorist attack on UK Parliament and asked how prepared attendees were for an attack of this nature. 

A packed line-up of speakers on the Conference saw a panel discussing and celebrating the pivotal role women play in the private security industry, featuring Lisa Baskott from 2^nd Line of Defence Ltd, Michelle Russell from the Security Industry Authority (SIA), Gemma Quirke from Wilson James Ltd and Savannah Plummer from Shecurity Ltd.  

Other talks on the Conference looked at HVM at the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament, mastering non-verbal communication, a future of biometrics, the rise of clones and deepfakes and additional skills every security professional should have.  

All of these talks plus many more across both days, offered attendees a means to stay informed about the most pressing issues affecting security professionals the world over, whilst providing plenty to think about and apply directly in their role. 

Bringing techniques and products to life 

This year an all-new Live Immersive Arena, produced in partnership with CrisisCast, brought real-life threats to life both on stage and via a huge video-screen.

Using scenarios set around an airport and a stadium, actors staged protests, set off smoke flares whilst rappelling from the balcony in Olympia and simulated scenarios with evolving levels of threat.

Audax, CSL, F24, Hirsch, LINEV Systems UK and SafeCrowds all had their products and services featured which let audience members see exactly how they could be used to resolve these threats. 

The ever-popular LPCB Live Testing Lab returned with the busiest schedule of testing yet.

Numerous perimeter security exhibitors saw their LPCB-certified products put through their paces by forced-entry experts, who tested everything from fences, doors and turnstiles, to key safes, padlocks and walling systems. 

On the Counter Threat Pavilion, CBRN-UK and Counter-EO UK ran live demonstrations showcasing their members capabilities, utilising robots and detection devices.

British Transport Police ran demonstrations to highlight the techniques their special response unit and firearms teams apply, whilst Border Force showcased their detection techniques via a car and lorry cab with hidden concealments. 

Uniting the worlds of cyber and physical security 

Taking place in the adjacent National Hall, International Cyber Expo saw 7,543 visitors come through the door as it continued to grow and justify its position as one of the most important cyber security events in the UK.

Thousands of attendees crossed between both events showing how interconnected physical and cyber security are. 

With 137 exhibitors on the exhibition floor, the Global Cyber Summit, Tech Hub Stage and Diversity & Skills Stage, the event provided attendees an ideal chance to learn about the most pressing and imminent threats whilst seeking out the latest solutions to improve cyber resilience.

Live demonstrations such as the CrisisCast Immersive Demonstrator, Metropolitan Police Cyber Escape Room, Cyber Griffin Lego exercises helped bring to life ways to improve attendees cyber strategies. 

“I’m blown away by the response to this year’s International Security Expo and how busy it was. Feedback has been phenomenal with both exhibitors and visitors equally satisfied with who they met and what they saw,” said Rachael Shattock, Group Event Director, Nineteen Group. 

“I am thrilled that we were able to host the new UK Minister of State for Security and he chose the event for his first public speech in the role.

“With an exceptionally high-level of international attendees joining the International Delegations Programme, including delegates from Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, United States, Oman, Indonesia, Singapore, Kenya and from across Europe, the event was even more international than ever.  

“My thanks go out to all our exhibitors, visitors, partners, Advisory Council members and participating Government departments and agencies. We cannot wait to see you next year!” 

International Security Expo and International Cyber Expo return to Olympia Events in London on 30 September – 1 October 2025. For more info, including how to register your interest to visit or to exhibit, go to: www.internationalsecurityexpo.com 

This article was originally published in the November Edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.