As we approach the launch of Security & Policing 2025 hear from Joe Stokoe, Head of Policing and Law Enforcement Engagement at ADS, who offers his insight into his S&P experience during his career in the police force.
As the planning meetings for Security & Policing 2025 start to pick up I have been reflecting on my previous experiences of the event as a police officer and how that will influence my work at the event in my new role as Head of Policing and Law Enforcement Engagement in ADS.
I first attended S&P in 2023 and was amazed at the size of the event and the depth and breadth of the offering from the exhibitors. I was also struck by the level of Government engagement at the event. In a world where foreign affairs and defence matters often occupy the headlines, and therefore much government time, it was good to see that level of commitment. The several stages with a vast variety of speakers was also impressive, giving me an insight into governmental thinking. Both attendances enabled me to not only enhance my understanding of the security network within Government but also the future challenges they perceive and the direction of travel to deal with them.
I also attended S&P during this time as a representative of the Home Office Science and Technology Commissioning Hub, within the Home Office STARS directorate. We had visitors from across policing and other law enforcement agencies, including international delegations. These interactions were beneficial to all, establishing relationships that remain strong to this day. This quality of visitor was highlighted last year when the Home Office Executive Committee had a meeting on site and then attended the exhibition afterwards. The closed nature of the event enhances the opportunity for engagement with the right people at the right level and was reassuring to me in my meetings throughout both events.
Whilst at S&P I was able to conduct market scanning in capability gaps identified by policing. Policing is often not aware of what is available on the market to support them in fighting crime – S&P gave me the opportunity to get a much wider knowledge of existing technologies and capabilities that could support my work and the wider policing mission.
From the opposite perspective, I noted the large number of international delegations and policing colleagues who attended which obviously increases the range of potential customers for exhibitors.
However, I was only aware of the event from my work within the Home Office; I was not aware of the event when I was working within the Metropolitan Police Service. Whilst it is clear a lot of police officers and staff do attend there is more to be done to publicise S&P within policing and other law enforcement arenas. I will be working with the JSaRC team and Home Office and policing colleagues to increase awareness of the event and the benefits of their attendance. I am excited to be able to work within ADS to publicise this event to colleagues still within policing and security.
My message to my policing colleagues (and anyone else providing public security) is that if they want to meet with Government representatives and understand their thinking in the security arena, if they want to understand what is currently available on the market to support their crime fighting and if they want to increase and enhance their professional networks and contacts they have to attend S&P 2025. I hope to see you there.
Joe Stokoe – Head of Policing and Law Enforcement Engagement, ADS