Andy Schofield appointed chair of AI and Biometrics Special Interest Group

The Trade Association for the professional security industry here in the UK, the BSIA promotes excellence within the field and facilitates a number of members’ Special Interest Groups in order to address specific issues affecting the sector.

Launched back in 2020, the AI and Biometrics Special Interest Group was established to support the industry by building customer confidence in the safe, ethical and effective use of AI and biometrics in the security sector, ultimately promoting the improved protection of people, property and places.

The Special Interest Group achieves this goal through the development of Best Practice guides and standards to ensure that the industry adopts AI and biometric technologies responsibly and ethically.

Further, the Special Interest Group’s industry-first, Government-acknowledged legal and ethical recommendations on facial recognition technology informed the first-ever British Standard Code of Practice on the subject entitled ‘Facial Recognition Technology: Ethical Use and Deployment in Video Surveillance-Based Systems’ (BS 9347:2024).

Security and technology sectors

The Special Interest Group consists of practitioners from both the security and technology sectors and actively encourages participation from all BSIA members, including manufacturers, integrators and installers. This collaborative approach facilitates productive discussions and knowledge-sharing with key stakeholders from academia and Government.

Through such engagement, the Special Interest Group focuses on exchanging Best Practice and addressing the challenges facing the industry. This maintains alignment with developments across the technical and regulatory landscapes.

Meetings cover a wide range of far-reaching topics. Schofield’s first meeting as chair in the early part of this month concentrated on AI standardisation, the implementation of the AI Act and a review of the BSIA’s own facial recognition technology-centred legal and ethical guide.

Decades of experience

Schofield harbours upwards of 30 years’ experience in the security sector. A member of the senior management team at independent security technology integrator Reliance High-Tech since 2014, Schofield has helped to steer the company in the development of industry-leading AI solutions that differentiate it from its competitors.

Commenting on his appointment, Schofield told Security Matters: “I’m honoured to accept the appointment as chair of the BSIA’s AI and Biometrics Special Interest Group. It’s pivotal in shaping the future of the security industry given that AI and biometrics hold immense potential for advancing security solutions. We want to encourage thoughtful debate and drive innovation, while always ensuring the highest ethical standards are met. By working together, we can ensure the UK leads the way in developing cutting-edge and responsible technologies that set the global standard for security."

Alistair Enser, CEO at Reliance High-Tech, observed: “I congratulate Andy on his new appointment. His credentials are second to none and reflect the focus that Reliance High-Tech has placed on leveraging AI to provide value beyond security alone. I have absolute confidence that, under Andy’s stewardship, the AI and Biometrics Special Interest Group will take significant steps forward in helping to shape the future of the industry.”

*Further information is available online at https://www.reliancehightech.co.uk and https://www.bsia.co.uk/special-interest-groups