Topic
UKGov intelligence services recognise the food and drinks supply chain is at significant risk of a terrorist attack. This case study focuses upon FMCG security.
Using facial recognition technology we conduct background checks on employees working in vulnerable areas of the supply chain – notably those with open contact with food. Our background checks, the most rigorous in the United Kingdom and known as Strata confirm the true identity of individuals therefore prevent anyone with a radicalised agenda gaining employment by means of deception.
It is estimated that an attack on the FMCG sector may occur within the next 18 months. Food and drinks manufacturers are embedding Strata as part of their internal defence strategy to bridge shortfalls in sector legislation, secure brand protection, ensure the well-being of employees and to instil shareholder confidence.
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Topic
The threat of deliberate food contamination
The World Health Organisation (WHO) openly stress the risks associated with food terrorism to which they refer to as a global concern.
Of particular concern is “an act or threat of deliberate contamination of food for human consumption with biological, chemical or physical agents or radio-nuclear materials for the purpose of causing injury or death to civilian populations and/or disrupting social, economic or political stability.”
Topic
FMCG security guidelines are insufficient
To help organisations reduce the likelihood of threat there are industry guidelines such as those provided in Threat Assessment and Critical Control Points (TACCP) and Vulnerability Assessment Critical Control Point (VACCP).
Such guidelines however fall short in their understanding of the magnitude of the threat and offer only basic remedies that fail to address fully the true source of the threat – which is ‘people’.
Standard DBS checks only access 8% of available data.
Strata intelligence-led background checks using facial recognition access 78%
The question is, ‘would you choose to make an informed employment decision based on understanding only 8% of the potential risk, or would you prefer to have access to 78% of the solution’ ahead of offering employment?
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Eliminating the threat
To help organisations “know their people” Strata draws immediate attention to employees (or potential candidates) with links to terrorism or at the very least identify those with direct or indirect associations with criminality or radical ideology that has cause for ‘above average’ concern.
Strata is non-intrusive, fully compliant with GDPR and swiftly eliminates threat before those with intent gain access to vulnerable areas of the supply chain. The process also adds an additional layer of security to the due diligence and vetting protocols conducted by agencies supplying staff to FMCG manufacturers.
Industry is concerned that the limited ability of DBS checks is leaving companies widely exposed to potential risk. Intelligence-led background checks solve this problem.
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Industry guidelines and compliance
There is evidence that threats to and within the food manufacturing process are moving faster than solutions provided under TACCP and VACCP.
Vulnerability is correctly identified in ‘The White Paper’ (noted in PAS 96 2014) but fails to understand the threat created by rapidly moving geopolitical dynamics and gives only basic remedies under the broad heading of ‘Know your people’.
Strata does not seek to replace TACCP – indeed quite the opposite. It should form a fundamental part of TACCP compliance.
Topic
Why implement a food defence strategy?
Premeditated contamination at any point in the supply chain could result in catastrophic consequences both socially and economically.
It is imperative to understand the types of threat we face, identify critical control points where an attack may occur and subsequently embed countermeasures to instil formidable layers of security that also act as a deterrent.
Embedding facial recognition checks as part of a preventative risk-based food defence strategy can also mitigate against insurance because many policies do not cover the eventuality of a terrorist attack. The checks also serve to reassure stakeholders about the safety of your production and supply chain.
Topic
Vulnerability assessment seminars
If you are an FMCG manufacturing company or an agency supplying staff to FMCG manufacturers we would be happy to brief key stakeholders upon industry threats, intelligence gathering and how to implement intelligence-led countermeasures within your organisation. Seminars are for key management only and can be conducted online or at your premises.
Seminars are confidential and conducted by agents acting at the forefront of counter-terrorism.
Working with FMCG industry partners’ Strata has been modified to solve a sector-specific challenge and in so doing strengthen the integrity of the supply chain and safeguard the wider population.
This case study is also a clear example of how our industry partnership programme works and an indication of the scale of commerce such partnerships can achieve.
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Contact and connect
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