The role of private security in the protection of critical infrastructures

1. The role of private security in the protection of critical infrastructures Veerle Pashley Free University of Brussels Department of Criminology

2. ‘In 537 A.D., the Goths besieging Rome destroyed its principal aqueducts, a major component of the city’s critical infrastructure. Without their water supply, Rome’s defenders lost the will to fight and the city was destroyed’ ( Shenoi, 2008: 1; Van Nevel, 2010)

3. Aims & scope • Studying critical infrastructures and its protection: current challenges • The criminologist, security and thinking about the unthinkable in a changing landscape • The vital role of Private Security • Conclusion

4. Studying Critical Infrastructures (1) • Lack of research • Parallels between the judicial definition of SEP in Belgium (1998) & the creation of a European program regarding CIP • Negotiations between public & private organisations • Several events impacted current developments, e.g. terrorist attacks (New York, Madrid & London), environment (Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland) • Dislocation of infrastructures

5. Scientific and Economic Potential • Relatively new assignment, especially in comparison with two other missions: internal security & external security  State Security and Military Intelligence • In Belgium: law 30th November 1998  judicial framework state security but also for military intelligence services: • A process of intelligence (Shulsky & Schmitt, 2002): information (actual & potential threats), activity (gathering, analysing, processing & countering), organisation (carrying out information activities)  defensive/protective • Problem judicial framework  unclear definition  still a long way to go from here • Reaction Belgian intelligence committee  ‘Protecting a nations economic potential (defensive & offensive) is about the protection of its infrastructure and know – how, guaranteeing the enhancement of the production of labour/work and capital/fortune’

6. Scientific and Economic Potential • The main aim  protecting a nations well being  markets, work, knowledge, productivity…. • Focus on organisations (private & public): companies, research & education centres, technologies… • Importance: PPS & prevention • Main threats: economic espionage, infrastructures, sabotage … • So why just recently? Since the end of the 20th century  increasing focus on economic security • Prosperity in highly developed countries is vulnerable & dependent on the international economy (Gosselin, Leysen & Verbeke, 2007) • Protecting economic and scientific welfare as part of the national security plans

7. Scientific and Economic Potential • Focus Action Plan  tackling threats • The economical sovereignty • Protecting critical infrastructures (creating a network of information between partners) • Securing scientific research & development • Safeguarding a free, secure & honest environment • Global economy = international competition = shifting strategies • Strategic economic interests around the globe • Regulatory assignment to gather, analyse & process intelligence in order to protect the SEP

8. SEP - CIP • Threats & targets • Example threats: • Dangers: recording confidential information of a financial& economic nature, public infrastructures such as communication networks and control air traffic • Definition CIP • Dependence on services  the size and interdependence between infrastructures can create serious damage  chain reaction (cascade effects)  damage: socially, economically, technologically • US security  reducing vulnerabilities  creating networks between partners

9. The criminologist, security & thinking about the unthinkable (2) • Studying security • Threats: • Direct  measurable – visible – tangible • Indirect  Wicked Problems (Gosselin, 2012)  widening the scope  things that could happen  thinking about the unthinkable  how? • Pressing need for strategic debates • Concept ‘Security’ mostly researched focussing on direct criminal threats, e.g. terrorism • Striving towards a wider research scope

11. Figure Security: Adam Crawford, 2012

12. Role Private Security • Research Private Security (nationally – internationally) • Research Private Security in Europa  White Papers (CoESS)  growth private security • ‘New Political Economy’ (Adam White) • Economic • Governmental • Current developments: enhancing international security strategies • Private security: judicially, scientifically, structurally

13. Role Private Security • Junior partner – Economic – Public private divide – self ownership – integral security management • International model! • Private Security on a European level • Re-defying PPS on a broader scale  importance • Harmonisation • Need coordination at all levels • Central unit • Strengthen the position of PS at a European level

14. Role Private Security • More specifically: • Impact critical infrastructures on several organisations (ICT, water transport, energy…) • Being prepared  how we respond is vitally important • CIP  protection according to their know how, function, data and continuity • Role private security  specialisation at market segments (Cools, 2013) • How to respond? At all levels  networking

15. Challenges for the future • Problem of ‘security’ impacting CIP • PPS  collaboration • SEP – CIP – Research • The vital role of private security • Protecting our SEP & the necessity for a better (international) policy, e.g. chemical industry, environment (Iceland volcano)…

16. Questions? Veerle.Pashley@vub.ac.be