Report on the “URBAN SAFETY 2008” International Conference - 28th May 2008

“URBAN SAFETY 2008” International Conference
29^th – 30^th April 2008, Budapest / Hungary

The Committee for Public Order and Security for the General Assembly of Budapest with the support of the European Forum for Urban Safety (EFUS) as well as the “Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, Federation of the Autonomous Priories” (KMFAP) organised an international conference on Urban Safety between the 29^th - 30^th of April 2008 with the participation of numerous world great authorities.
The venue was the boardroom of the General Assembly of Budapest.

After the welcoming speeches of Mr. László MANDUR – Vice-President of the Hungarian Parliament and Dr. Anatolij SHEVCHENKO – professor and rector of the Donyeck University the participants were greeted by Dr. Béla DANIELISZ – Vice-President of EFUS, who held a brief introduction: “Preamble – the liveable city”.

Presentations during the Conference:

• Michel Marcus, director of EFUS
• Dr. Maria Alvanou, Terrorism Expert, professor of the Catholic University of Milan – „Urban security – terrorism threats”
• Dr. Salgó László PhD retired police lieutenant-general, deputy-manager of the Europol, - „ Security in Europe with a special focus on the crime situation in the big cities”
• Dipl. Ing. Wolfgang Schaeuble director general of Munich Fire Service - „Emergency fire service in an European Metropolis”
• Dr. Harnos Zsolt professor, department-leader of Corvinus University Budapest - „Clime change”
• Dr. Bende Péter major-general, metropolitan fire service commander - „Safety of big cities”
• Dr. Tóth Ferenc president of the Foundation for Public Safety of Hungary - „Turmoil of the urban functions, terrorism”
• Eur. Ing. Frank György honorary assisted professor – „New challenges in the civil defence concerning urban safety”
• Dr. Jármy Tibor police major, European legal jurist, crime prevention leader of the Budapest Police, lecturer of the University Eötvös Loránd, Department of State and Legal Studies – “Cities and communal law enforcement in the beginning of the 21^st century”.
• Miklós István appointed leader of the Metropolitan Guard – “The role of the Metropolitan Guard in the creation of the liveable city”.
  

Main Patron of the event from the side of the Knight Order was HEH Prof. José Manuel Costa da Veiga COSMELLI – Grand Master, Professor of the Lisbon University, who held a lecture on “The Knights of Saint John and Security – historical and modern approaches”.

The other Patron of the Conference Prof. George POPPER – President of IBSSA, before starting his lecture, introduced IBSSA, its goals and activities to the high-ranking foreign and Hungarian professionals and experts of the conference.
In his lecture Prof. Popper was talking about „Security challenges”, and the important role of the private security sphere on national and international level.

Urban security is an extremely widespread and diversified area, which contains the chance of natural disasters, the security of traffic, the probability of fire and much more cases. Though IBSSA is active in the field of rescue operations and disaster recovery – Prof. Popper talked solely about the role and tasks of IBSSA in respect of terror threat of cities and public security. He emphasized that in our globalised world, in Europe without borders we have to face international crime and terror threats – therefore momentous international cooperation on crime prevention, counter terrorism and criminal investigation is a must.

Primary targets of crimes and terrorism are public buildings, shopping centres, traffic junctions, pleasure-grounds, casinos, tourist attractions and sights, etc. – furthermore residential and private valuables, houses, flats, motor vehicles, shops, etc.. With particular regard to the fact that all these values are secured in more cases by civil security companies and in order to reach more efficient international and national activities in the prominent fields of security IBSSA entered into close cooperation contracts with numerous law enforcement agencies, private security services and other worldwide organisations (Fire Brigade, Rescue Teams, First Aid, etc.). The main goal of these contracts was to fight against crime, terrorism and narcotics. This is what IBSSA has been developing worldwide for more than 10 years!

In the last 2 years IBSSA organised and participated numerous events, took an active part in the formation of several organisations, which deal with the above mentioned matters and above all fight against drugs and counter-terrorism, as it is well-known today that drug trade is interconnected with other fields of terrorism and crime.

Just to mention the main organisations and events:
Connection of drugs and terror threats: “Narco-terrorism”
Fight against drugs:
INEOA (International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association)
EDDKE (European Narcotic Enforcement and Drug Prevention Centre) – seated in Budapest, Hungary
Rescue operations: our units are based in Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, Angola, etc.

IBSSA has also recently joined IFNGO (International Federation of Non Governmental Organisations). This organisation includes non-governmental organisations from around the world that are concerned with anti-drug activities, and represents them in the UN and its various organisations.

IBSSA considers extremely important to have up-to-date trainings (for security people), which adapt to the demands of the era, and also to the measures of danger and threat – IBSSA is leading in this work throughout the world. It is substantial to prepare and inform the population, families and children about the threats – they have to face, how they can prevent all this, and how they have to act, what they have to do in case of disasters, accidents, emergency and other attacks!
Taking special note of all the above themes and matters IBSSA formed its educational and training system of great importance!

For the future both organisations – IBSSA and KMFAP – offer close cooperation for EFUS in order to reach our mutual goals and they are ready to support the preparatory and organising works of the EFUS events.

28^th May 2008
IBSSA HQ