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The Hadrian Project
Introduction
On Thursday 29th November and Friday 30th November 2007 30 leading strategic thinkers from across the United Kingdom, the region and Europe gathered at Close House, Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland as part of a think tank. Sponsored by the Regional Development Agency One North East, Newcastle University and N.E.F.F., the event took place against a serious backcloth of major developments involving the North East, but which have a much wider impact and consequences for trust and security well beyond the region. These developments include Northern Rock, loss of private data at the Washington Child Benefit Office and allegations of irregular political funding.
Academics, representatives of local and national government, representatives of the local business community and police officers met over two days. The original agenda was informed and energized both by the innovative nature of the multi-sectoral talks and by the impact of external events. This became an agenda for change and challenge which aims to provide sustainable answers to areas of deep systemic concern for citizens, business, police and the judiciary. All recognize a climate of increasing uncertainty and instability where better mastery and transparency of the Internet Age are urgently required to give confidence to public life and personal privacy.
Background
The North East Fraud Forum was founded in March 2003 at an event held at St James Park, Newcastle upon Tyne. Four hundred delegates attended the event from the public and private sectors in a unique initiative to combine forces to fight fraud and financial crime. The initiative soon earned the support of regional, national and international government including, The Attorney General's office, The United States Treasury Department and the United Nations Trade and International Law Commission and United Nations Drugs and Organised Crime agency. The initiative has since spread across the United Kingdom to 8 other British regions and continues to grow.
In August 2007 officials from NEFF met with senior academics within the North East of England to determine what work was being carried out in relation to 'Future Crimes' and what threat they posed the region. This meeting soon launched a wider debate about how best the region could work as one to protect itself today and in the future against such issues as cyber crime. The essence of a working group under the title, NECTAR North East Cyber Crime Technology & Research was brought together.
The Days Proceedings
Summary of events
On the morning of the first day key speakers including, Sandra Quinn, Director of National Fraud Strategic Authority, Jacques Bus, Head: Security in ICT Unit, EC, Prof. Tom Anderson, Prof Peter Ryan, Newcastle University, Alan Brown QPM, NEFF, Dr. Andrew Robinson, Chair: European Commercial Office and DCI Phil Butler Northumbria Police spoke briefly about threats, opportunities and the European perspective.
Prof. Tom Anderson, Newcastle University
The host for the days event and organiser explained the format for the 2 days ahead and encouraged all delegates to think and talk as freely as possible encouraging and stimulating open and free discussion.
Alan Brown, QPM, Chair: North East Fraud Forum
Alan explained the evolution and growth of NEFF and how the organisation is providing a unique platform for practitioners, business leaders and government officials in the region. He asked all delegates to acknowledge the fact that public agencies have difficulties in exchanging data and information despite the fact that secure information sharing technology exists and the a lack of public trust now exists because of recent debacles in the region. The answer lies he stated in stronger will, commitment and stronger leadership at all levels.
Sandra Quinn, Director: National Fraud Strategic Authority
Sandra acknowledged the difficulties business faced with a clear conflict between a pressure to generate profit and a balance against risk. There were clear risk tolerances considered by all businesses but a general apathy of 'I'm alright Jack' mentality existed not just by business but by the public also. There was a general lack of understanding of technology by the citizen. Greater incentives are required despite the he complex, dynamic issues faced. The answer lay in working more closely together for the benefit of the consumer, business and government. Education is a key factor at all ages and levels and Britain must work together in developing a strong anti-fraud culture. The work of the NSFA will be instrumental in achieving this objective.
Prof. Peter Ryan, Newcastle University
Prof Ryan spoke about combating cyber crime with the research agenda. The growth in cyber crime and the exploitation by global organised crime brought both challenges and opportunities, which could be exploited by academic research with positive outputs and outcomes for the practitioner. There was an acknowledged balance between the freedoms and rights of the individual and law enforcement and some tools available such as cryptography could be seen as a double edged sword. Clearly these tools are extremely relevant, cost effective but there often there is a danger in assessing what we can get quickly and taking a short-term approach to resolving long term problems.
Jacques Bus, Head: Security in ICT Unit, EC
Jacques spoke eloquently about the current and future threats faced by Europe in relation to IT Security e.g. 50% of the world's malicious computer misuse comes from EU member states. There is a firm commitment from EU government to raise awareness and combat cyber crime in a coordinated harmonised way. The key priorities for Europe are:
Network security and what will the Internet look like in 2020?
Secure service infrastructures
Critical infrastructure
Protection and sustainability
Service enabling technologies
The EU must work towards creating sustainable and resilient Meta layer infrastructures, which are understandable and secure. Two of the most important issues were security and trust building identification management and empowering end users. Obstacles to achieving this would be such things as, complexity, usability, trust, and privacy and software assurance. The key conclusions are: Are the current instruments adequate and flexible to adapt? And will our current strategy and priority choices stand the proof of time?
DCI Phil Butler, DCI Northumbria Police ECU
DCI Butler asked the delegates to think back 20 years and assess what sorts of threats; crimes and dangers faced the citizen and the business community in 1987. Essentially he stated that 20 years ago crimes were very much 'in your face' and there was a predominance of offences of robberies occurring at banks, building societies, post offices and cash in transit. He then asked the delegates to think about today's society and how offences are now committed in a virtual world such as, cyber bullying, phishing and Identity theft. Yesterdays bank robbers are now organised crime gangsters who have distanced themselves from; in your face' crimes and who now have nominated individuals who run drugs, extortion, tax evasion and prostitution on their behalf. Yesterday's robbers are now 'property developers' with extensive and expansive property and business portfolios through which they launder their criminal monies.
Delegates were tasked with thinking about these things and to try and look forward to the future and try and predict or anticipate threats we may encounter especially as society seems to becoming ever more dependant on technology.
Dr. Andrew Robinson, Chair: European Commercial Office
Dr Robinson summarised the key themes of the speakers and prepared the delegates for the next series of discussions called 'birds of a feather'. This involved putting the attendees into their own sector groups, Commerce, Government, Academic and Police.
The groups were tasked to look at the problems of today and what they were doing to combat present threats. This acted as an introduction to the main workshops where the groups were brought back again and further subdivided into mixed groups with representatives from all sectors. Working with a facilitator they were tasked to look at the following issues:
1. Needs of the citizen
2. Technology Awareness and Foresight
3. Marshalling and Deploying our Strengths
Following energetic and enthusiastic discussion the delegates noted the following main requirements:
Education/awareness/training
Menu of solutions required for business and public
Citizen representation
Behavioural aspects need to be researched
Victimology
Further expansion and evolvement of NEFF services required, NEFF Plus?
Rebuild regional confidence and trust after recent events
Engagement of the media
Dr Robinson then led the group with a discussion entitled, 'Scenes to Scenarios' and commenced by saying that although there have been 3 recent blows to confidence in the region there are still positive things happening in the North East and this group of regional representatives with a will to change things was one. Having in the past surprised the world through innovation and enterprise, the challenge was now, in the Information Age, to avoid being surprised and disadvantaged by it. We should look forward to what's being done internally and externally and go forward together with the NSFA, our European partners capturing new knowledge and build capacity. We need to work closely together to complete the following actions:
Rebuild civic confidence and community trust gaining reassurance that the North east is a safe, secure and trusting place to do business
There must be a multi disciplined approach which while harnessing public and private resources stimulates commercial spin offs and applications
We must recognise the size and shape of current/future problems and what we can achieve in turning problems into leading and competitive advantages
The Second Day
Summary and Conclusions
Delegates met together in the morning and summarised the key challenges:
How to move NEFF forwards in close conjunction with government/academic/business and government
Such a strong diverse turn out at the event was an extremely positive thing
All the pieces to the jigsaw were present at the event and by working together could provide future solutions
Such a gathering could provide a framework or vehicle for the future
Organisations must become more proactive as well as defensive
The needs of the citizen must be protected and enshrined at the heart of any future venture
Business assist programmes must be developed
Such a venture must span the region, and add value also to UK and European actions
Conclusion
Given the tenor of recent media coverage from and about the region, the attendees representing some of the region's governmental, academic and business leaders felt empowered and determined to take a positive and robust stance to provide some protection for the North East community not only for today but also for the future. Combining the talent and research of the regions universities with North East business and law enforcement delegates identified clear opportunities for collaborative and complementary initiatives within a clearly badged project. Any such venture, properly resourced and tasked, must be a legal entity representing the interest of the citizen and must span the region giving guidance, advice, assistance and protection for all North East citizens.
It was noted that the event was being held within the close vicinity of Hadrian's Wall a world heritage site. It was further recognised that when first constructed it was built on the frontier of the then Roman Empire and is still seen today as a sign of strength and security for the region. As such there was a real synergy with the aims and objectives of the conclusions of the two days event, resulting in the designation of the HADRIAN PROJECT.
A pledge made by all representatives from regional, national, European partners, law enforcement business and citizen leaders was made to work together to recognise threats and seek opportunities to develop the project to help rebuild public confidence and trust and build a strong and confident region for the future. This aim is not just for the region, but also for all those who share the aim of leaving no one behind, vulnerable or insecure in the Internet era as it affects all regions of this and other countries.