bapcoThe annual exhibition and professional development workshops is the leading European multi-agency forum for all those working within public safety communications. B-APCO 2013 brings a fresh new agenda focusing on smarter partnerships between forces, and building upon a broader relationship between the emergency services, civil contingency responders, local authorities, utilities, the National Grid, Nuclear Power and oil and gas producers.

New, also this year are the free-to-attend workshops that will run alongside the two-day exhibition and act as an interactive learning environment, complementing the technology showcased on the exhibition floor.

The workshops are supported by the Cabinet Office, Home Office, ACPO, CFOA, AACE, JOIFF, HSE, EA, PIA and CNC. Benefiting from a wide range of opinion and experience, panelists will offer varied informed information and debate on what will be required to adapt to future services.

Topics being covered include:
Future user communication requirements for the emergency services

Led by Commander Richard Morris, this workshop will involve Chief Officers, representatives from the Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme, Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme, the main voice and mobile providers and TETRA and the Critical Communications Association. Under the chairmanship of Commander Richard Morris, the ACPO Leader for IT communications, this workshop will focus on the arrangements to sustain and develop the future user requirements of the emergency services.

Convergence of Emergency Control Plans

This workshop will bring together Health and Safety Executive, the Environmental Agency, the Emergency Services, utility suppliers, Joint Oil Industry Fire Forum and the Petroleum Industry Association to debate the future HSE requirements to align emergency response plans. This will include communications interoperability, governance and technical support.

Mobile data in vehicles

Following consultation between the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Department of Transport, it has been agreed that over the next three years emergency vehicles will need to ensure that they comply with the instruction and use regulations governing the use of equipment whilst the vehicle is in motion. This workshop will bring together representatives from government, users in the emergency services, and workshop engineers who will debate how this can be delivered.

Incident Data Transfer Standard workshop (follow on from DEIT)

Cabinet Office (Resilient Telecoms Program) and British APCO founded a cross-industry and stakeholders group to determine and create a Standard and schema for the technical and operational standards required to provide the interoperable transfer of data between the broad range of organisations that comprise the ‘resilience community’. This builds on the successful experience of a jointly-funded pilot project by the Cabinet Office, ACPO and Welsh Government involving Gwent Police, South Wales Fire and Rescue service and Newport City Council. This meeting is the next session in the progress of this exciting and important project.

G-Cloud

Cloud computing has brought about a step change in the economics and sustainability of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). UK Government is committed to the adoption of cloud computing and delivering computing resources. The G-Cloud is an iterative programme of work to achieve this, which will deliver fundamental changes in the way the public sector procures and operates ICT. This workshop will provide an overview of the G-Cloud journey – and then illustrate how cloud computing is already making a difference to public safety agencies.

These sessions are a platform for learning, discussion and debate with industry colleagues. To register or for more information about these and other workshops, and the exhibition please visit the event website: www.bapco.co.uk  

(Please note workshop attendance will be on a first come, first-served basis and priority will be given to B-APCO members. We therefore strongly recommend you register for the workshops before the event).