The Association of Security Consultant's Consec 2025 shifts outdoors and explores tech-driven security innovations
The Association of Security Consultants (ASC) held its 31st annual conference, Consec, on October 23, 2025, marking a significant departure from tradition by hosting the event at Hinxton Hall in Cambridgeshire rather than its usual London venues. The decision to move the conference outside the capital, a move not seen since the event was held around the millennium at the Metropolitan Police’s sports and social club, was met with positive attendance levels that matched or surpassed previous years. This success may herald a new approach for future gatherings, with organisers considering staying out of London next year. Another notable innovation was the introduction of two parallel streams of talks, enhancing the depth and variety offered to attendees.
ASC vice-chair Simon Crane highlighted the organisation’s robust growth, revealing that its membership had surged past 450, reflecting an exponential trajectory. This expansion underscores ASC’s increasing prominence as the UK’s leading professional body for independent security consultants, providing members with critical access to decision-makers and innovators across both public and private sectors. Demonstrating its evolving portfolio, the ASC recently entered into a contract with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) to take over the Sabre building and site security accreditation scheme from the Security Institute, with board member Ken Graham leading a team to advance the accreditation’s development.
The theme of the conference was particularly timely: how conflict drives technological advancements in security. Retired Air Vice Marshal Bob Judson, drawing on his extensive 34-year RAF career, shared a compelling and wide-ranging case study from his nine-month command of Kandahar International Airport in Afghanistan in 2008. His insights went beyond technology alone, addressing the multifaceted nature of base security in conflict zones—highlighting everything from logistical challenges in a remote location to the critical role of ‘hearts and minds’ efforts with local populations. The complex conditions Judson described, including climatic extremes and the need for secure zones amid active conflict, offered attendees a profound understanding of the physical and human factors shaping force protection. Judson’s experience also resonates in modern security contexts, aligning with his ongoing commentary via podcasts on security issues, including his historic involvement in the London 2012 Olympics.
Technology discussions featured heavily, reflecting current industry innovations. The conference showcased cutting-edge developments in unmanned systems, particularly drones and robotic quadrupeds like Boston Dynamics’ Spot. Rosie Richardson, product and strategy director at Createc, detailed how these robotic units have evolved beyond novelty into practical, cost-effective tools. She pointed out that leasing options make robotic deployment more accessible and that integrated human-robot teams could enhance safety in hazardous environments such as nuclear power stations or perimeter patrols under difficult conditions. These advancements demonstrate how emerging technologies are reshaping traditional security roles and site management strategies.
The afternoon session included Richard Flint from BRE, who referenced the high-profile October 2025 jewel robbery at the Louvre as a critical example of evolving criminal tactics and the need for robust physical security standards. Flint emphasised the importance of the LPS 1175 standard, which focuses on resistance to manual forced entry, and highlighted guidance from the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) on this issue. Such standards are becoming increasingly vital as criminals’ willingness to invest significant resources in breaching sites grows.
The conference also drew from data-driven insights. Noah Price, International Director at G4S Academy, presented findings from G4S’s World Security Report, one of the largest surveys of chief security officers worldwide. Price revealed notable geographic differences in security priorities and threats, particularly between UK respondents and their global counterparts, which could influence how UK-based security consultants tailor their advice and strategies to local versus international concerns.
Overall, Consec 2025 stood out not only for its venue shift and expanded programming but also for reinforcing the ASC’s role as a hub for sharing cutting-edge security knowledge and fostering collaboration among consultants, suppliers, and security professionals. This event continues to serve as an essential platform for advancing informed, independent security consultancy across the UK and beyond.