Earlier this month, we welcomed security experts and industry leaders from across the UK to Corps Security’s 2026 Innovation Day at The National Archives in Richmond, Greater London.
The historic landmark holds over 1,000 years of heritage, including some of Corps Security’s own past, so it was the perfect reminder that in order to innovate, we must reflect on how far security has come and the impact that our officers have had throughout our 167-year history.
Sharing knowledge
Mike Bullock, CEO at Corps Security, opened with a powerful reminder: “Value isn’t what you know, it’s what you share”. That was the ethos of the entire day, bringing together the installers, security experts, and innovative solutions that will shape the future of our industry.
Paul Lotter, Managing Director at Corps Security, spoke about our social value achievements this year. We became a Living Wage Employer in 2019, and are proud to say that today, over 95 per cent of Corps colleagues earn the Living Wage. We also ranked in the top seven per cent of security companies globally with our EcoVadis Silver status. Innovation is driving change across Corps, but we remain a people-first business and take pride in meeting sustainability goals that protect our people and our planet.
Neil Shanks, Director at Corps Intel, discussed our newly launched intelligence services. Corps Intel offers services from weekly intelligence reports to bespoke threat alerts and dedicated analysts. Intelligence is more than just giving clients a rundown of threats, he explained, it has to answer the “so what?” and deliver actionable guidance.
Innovations in action
RISK was up first to demonstrate its metal detector arches. These are modular and portable structures that are designed to be set up in under five minutes and can detect metal objects down to the size of a pound coin. They have been deployed largely in educational institutions, but also in embassies and at sporting events.
The team put their money where their mouths are and set up a five-minute timer to prove that it could be done – of course, they passed with time to spare.
PPSS Group introduced its lightweight stab vests. Weighing in at 1.5kg, the vests also have a ten-year guarantee – double the lifespan of other Kevlar vests. They are ISO-accredited for knife, spike and blunt force protection with zero penetration. The team put blunt force protection to the test with a baseball bat, which simply bounced off the vest.
Beespace then took the stage to showcase its security sensors. They use LoRaWAN, wide-area networking, to perform checks of areas of 80-90m that save security personnel performing site-wide checks of low-use areas. The sensors also integrate with an AI facilities manager that automates patrol reports and temperature monitoring.
Finally, Security Drone Group demonstrated its fully-automated drones. These can operate 3km from their docking stations, performing perimeter checks and identifying intruders with thermal imaging and AI-powered smart tracking. They can also deliver audio warnings through pre-programmed messages or can connect to monitoring centres where operators can deliver live messages.
Ethical innovation
Mike Reddington, CEO of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), highlighted its work on ethical facial recognition. When draft bills threatened an outright ban five years ago, the BSIA published the first legal and ethical guide to facial recognition technology in 2021. “How do you open your phone or use passport gates?” Mike asked, arguing that there is already social acceptance but that we need transparent governance.
A panel discussion then explored robotics and emerging tech. Aron Kisdi from Autodiscovery explained how robotics remove people from harm while humans operate remotely with better intel. He explained that tech can provide that first line of defence and inform officers with camera footage and location services. He also spoke about the risk that tech can break or be damaged by intruders. He commented that regulations need to catch up, and affordability remains key for early adopters.
Another line of defence discussed was PanicGuard’s domestic violence response devices. They can trigger police arrival in under eight minutes and are able to gather video evidence for court. This, coupled with Mike Reddington’s insight on facial recognition, showcased a future of advanced solutions designed to protect the general public, as well as private sites.
Comprehensive solutions
Comprehensive site security means addressing the details people often overlook, like secure storage for spare keys, or protecting mail deliveries. Failing to address the basics alongside innovation threatens the safety of your site.
Loxal Security Ltd. presented its secure lock solutions, which are backed by a 15-minute attack test. They can generate daily 7-digit codes and come in various sizes to hold dozens of keys. Parcel Tracker showcased its mail management software that helps organisations track, log and securely hand over deliveries. Radiocoms Systems Ltd. demonstrated cellular network devices that integrate with fire alarms and CCTV.
There were other advanced solutions showcased such as AiLert, software that detects weapons via cameras and connects to monitoring systems, and Aura UK’s keyholder services that use algorithms to identify and communicate with the officer closest to a reported incident in just six seconds.
Having a well-protected and connected team is key to ensuring the safety of not only the site, but the officers operating in it as well.
Innovation in the future
Security innovation means more than staying steps ahead of advanced threats. Industry experts must consider where technology can be best integrated with current roles, and which areas need new capabilities to adapt to the increasingly complex threat landscape.
A key theme throughout the day was that no matter how sophisticated technology is, human decisions will always remain central to driving change in the industry. Our monitoring centre is aided by innovative technology, but it is our operatives who answered 14,000 calls and handled 242,000 alarms in January alone.
By sharing knowledge, our industry benefits from the joint expertise of leaders and innovators. We must remain agile and aware to protect our partner sites and the general public. It was a pleasure to host our Innovation Day at The National Archives, and we are proud of our industry’s spirit of collaboration.
If you are interested in learning more about Corps Security, Corps Monitoring, or Corps Intel, please get in touch with our team.
