Major Themes The First Annual Forum on Public Safety 2005

Greater investment in technology, especially in biometrics, detection and surveillance, was viewed as a priority. Participants argued for a “layered” approach to security where there may be no “silver bullet” but instead a well-crafted array of often unglamorous steps that, in the aggregate, can meet the security needs. One such “step” described by a participant, who is a senior police officer, was a means found to address the sensitivity surrounding the question of “collecting information on DNA by not using DNA that determines human characteristics – only non-coding parts of the DNA chain are used. This is a great step forward.” But as for fingerprints he was not as sanguine: “What an organizational disaster it is for the global law enforcement community to have five proprietary systems…The result is we exchange fingerprint information by way of images.”

In working groups 4 and 5, participants recognized that the effectiveness of any incident management plan for a natural or manmade disaster depends upon how rapidly and accurately first responders can establish and regularly update situation awareness. With situation awareness, resources can be efficiently and effectively implemented depending upon the severity of the crisis. Accordingly, participants recommended that “first responders should be equipped with interoperable equipment with high-speed video, data and voice capabilities and should be integrated with homeland security/defense personnel.” In addition, participants urged the development of standard operating procedures and terminology within each nation’s incident management plans and regular joint exercises to improve cooperation and information exchange within and among countries.

Participants uniformly saw a need for officials at all levels of homeland security to reach out and engage broader “communities”, be it the “neighborhood watch” approach and other community outreach programs described by a London police commander; the recommendation for fostering understanding among communities by participants in working group 7; also at the policy level where the Club of Madrid is engaging the “transitional” democracies; and by leaders in government, business and academia to engage the international Muslim community. There was broad agreement that the private sector must become a more integral partner in security preparedness and response. Private sector technology must be more fully utilized and companies brought in as “partners” where possible. As one speaker stated: “It’s about recognizing that data and information fixed in the commercial world or even proprietary in nature must now be blended with traditional security data to gain a fuller picture of the threats, vulnerabilities and possible consequences.” In addition, in working group 6, participants discussed how commercial resources can be utilized as force multipliers to assist government agencies and first responders with respect to response and recovery. An example was cited of the July 2005 London bombings where buses were utilized as ambulances and temporary treatment centers.

The fundamental lack of reliable, interoperable communications, particularly among first responders, was seen by the participants as a critical gap in homeland security in the U.S., Europe and Canada. The fact that nothing has been done to rectify this gap, which was highlighted in the 9/11 Report with respect to the U.S., was of great concern to them, particularly as the technology currently exists. In working groups 3 and 6, participants urged policymakers and legislators to recognize the potential of existing technologies for enabling real time information sharing and interoperation, thereby providing more effective disaster prevention, protection and response. As one participant remarked: “ First responders need joint forces, voice, broadband data, etc. to be interoperable and cost and scheduled realities clearly are going to drive this… to commercial offthe-shelf or, as they are referred to in the United States, COTS… we need to exploit the technologies, maximize their capabilities and facilitate… capability that is within grasp.”

The Forum took place less than a month before Hurricane Katrina. Many of the participants were residents of the Gulf States and they were both mindful of the enormous threat posed by natural disasters and concerned if the U.S. was adequately prepared for the consequences. As one participant put it with uncanny prescience: “Today we are focused on communications capability for a threat that is difficult to specify and anticipate-which is challenging. In Louisiana we have, regrettably, experience in dealing with unpredictable natural disasters, a threat that takes the form of periodic hurricanes. For those of you not familiar with hurricanes, let me put one consideration before you – a category 5 hurricane will, in approximately 20 minutes, release energy equivalent to multiple nuclear warheads. As a result, in Louisiana, public safety, especially in dealing with hurricanes, is a very serious and professional business. Situational awareness must be at the core of our preparedness. We therefore must take the opportunity to enhance the capabilities of First Responders with capabilities that will be useful, practiced and advanced because of hurricane threats… and build on top of that homeland security, public safety in the broadest
sense.”