In an ever-changing world, domestic and business travellers can no longer afford to be complacent about their personal safety. Although airport and port security measures have been tightened in the wake of 9/11, there remains a fundamental need for a continuous and conscious awareness of one's environment. Prudence, sound judgement and common sense must be to the fore at all times.
International business travel is not what it used to be. A breakdown in law enforcement across many nation states – mixed with the current air of global political conflict and tension – necessarily means that security managers must take into consideration a plethora of new risks when planning for employees' business trips overseas.

In truth, specialised training is really the only way to safeguard members of staff working in high risk regions ('On business – at risk', pp26-30). Clayton Consultants founder Thomas Clayton offers some excellent tactical advice for managers in this month's SMT... Share your itinerary. Genericize your baggage. Be completely up-to-date with flight schedules. Keep your distance from those who don't blend in. Observe suspicious characters. Arrange to meet your colleagues in a safe place...

These are practices that all business travellers can and should apply anywhere in the world. Performing such precautionary 'tasks' cannot guarantee safety, of course, but will dramatically enhance the odds of avoiding some kind of crisis scenario. Don't fall into the trap of thinking: "It will not happen to us". In today's world, complacency can be a killer.

The security industry's foremost exhibition is upon us once again. IFSEC – which runs from Monday 10 May through to Thursday 13 May in the vast halls of Birmingham's NEC – promises much in 2004. An excellent conference programme organised by the BSIA is backed-up by the top manufacturers who'll be exhibiting all kinds of security products, from CCTV and alarm systems through to perimeter protection and the very latest developments in access control and IP monitoring.

End users visiting the show can make use of our definitive guide (pp57-80) which we've produced in conjunction with sister CMP Information title Security Installer.

The SMT Team will be at the NEC throughout, so make sure you visit Stand F136 for a chat. We'd be delighted to see you.

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SMT