Blackwell Security Consulting Limited

24/08/2026

Thoughts are with Tom and Matt’s families and friends.

BTP Federation has paid tribute to former BTP officer, PC Tom Clough, who died this weekend

Now serving with Cleveland Police, PC Clough and his colleague PC Matthew Blades were killed after a car travelling the wrong way down a dual carriageway crashed into their vehicle in the early hours of Saturday 22 August.

Ryan Griffiths, General Secretary of BTP Federation, said: "Tom served with BTP for 4 years. He was based in Euston, Darlington and Middlesbrough and was well-known, liked and respected by his colleagues.

"His family has described him as a hero who would help anybody, and those of us who knew him would echo that. I know of several instances where Tom went well above and beyond to serve the public; it was simply in his nature."

"We’re devastated by Tom’s loss, and the loss of PC Matthew Blades. Police officers are ordinary men and women who go to work never truly knowing what they might face. These brave colleagues booked on for duty but didn’t make it home to their loved ones. That is a tragedy and their families, friends and colleagues are very much in our thoughts.”

A fundraising page set up to support the officers’ families has received a staggering response - over £400,000 has been donated so far. The page can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/pc-matthew-blades-and-pc-thomas-clough

22/08/2026

BBC Scotland ‘s new two‑part documentary Terror At The Terminal revisits the 2007 Glasgow Airport attack, providing a stark reminder of a period when threats to civil aviation were persistent and evolving.

From my perspective, what this moment in history really illustrates is the importance of collaboration. Effective aviation security depends on government, industry, law enforcement, and external security and intelligence agencies working together: sharing information, coordinating responses, and maintaining a unified approach to identifying and managing threats and risks. That collective effort is what ultimately strengthens resilience and protects the travelling public.

The documentary also prompts reflection on the value of learning from terrorist modus operandi and past incidents. Understanding how previous attacks unfolded, how responses were coordinated, and what lessons were drawn afterwards is essential for shaping future strategy. Continuous review, adaptation, and shared learning remain central to a robust aviation security posture.

22/08/2026

BBC Scotland ‘s new two‑part documentary Terror At The Terminal revisits the 2007 Glasgow Airport attack, providing a stark reminder of a period when threats to civil aviation were persistent and evolving.

https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2026/terror-at-the-terminal-new-documentary-series

From my perspective, what this moment in history really illustrates is the importance of collaboration. Effective aviation security depends on government, industry, law enforcement, and external security and intelligence agencies working together: sharing information, coordinating responses, and maintaining a unified approach to managing threats and risks. That collective effort is what ultimately strengthens resilience and protects the travelling public.

The documentary also prompts reflection on the value of learning from past incidents. For me, understanding how previous attacks unfolded, how responses were coordinated, and what lessons were drawn afterwards is essential for shaping future strategy. Continuous review, adaptation, and shared learning remain central to a robust aviation security posture.

UKSecurity

19/08/2026

Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex lifting from Ashford, Surrey.

16/08/2026

National Police Air Service hruc_ldnairambulance Air Ambulance Charity KSS Huge thanks to police air support, our air ambulance crews, and all helicopter emergency services today. Your skill and dedication keep communities safe. 💙🚁

13/08/2026

When I was moaning about the heat in the UK today, Facebook Memories reminded me of the 50C heat in Kuwait :-). Great memories of working on an interesting project at Kuwait International Airport.

12/08/2026

The united stance from police chiefs over PC Andrew Harper’s killers is powerful and right. Still, it’s hard to ignore the fact that it shouldn’t have required this level of pressure in the first place.

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10/08/2026

Headlines like this take us back to Operation Overt, a moment that fundamentally reshaped global aviation security. For those of us who’ve worked in and around aviation, security, or crisis response, it’s worth remembering the scale and complexity of that operation. It wasn’t just a high‑profile investigation; it was a demonstration of what coordinated intelligence work, disciplined processes, and calm decision‑making can achieve under immense pressure.

Beyond the emotion of the headline, the long-term impact is clear. The operational lessons from Overt changed how millions of people travel today, from liquid restrictions to enhanced screening protocols and improved inter‑agency cooperation. These weren’t cosmetic changes; they were structural shifts driven by evidence, risk assessment, and a commitment to public protection. It’s a reminder that security isn’t static. Threats evolve, behaviours adapt, and our systems must continually mature in response. Professionals across policing, intelligence, aviation, and government still draw on the principles established during Overt: collaboration, vigilance, and proportionality.

As leaders and practitioners, our responsibility is to stay informed, stay measured, and stay committed to evidence‑based decision‑making, especially when public debate is driven by headlines rather than context. Good security work is rarely visible, but its impact is felt every day.

06/08/2026

I found this today and it brought back fantastic memories of my time working with the National Drugs Intelligence Unit at New Scotland Yard - which became the National Criminal Intelligence Service and is now the National Crime Agency

03/08/2026

We see the challenges to aviation security growing and companies casting around for an effective response often making mistakes we find all too familiar.

The SeMS framework remains the best solution for these problems.  Its robust system for managing threats and risks gives the company assurance that it is on top of the challenges. 

We’ve taken advantage of Amazon’s Green Initiative to reduce the price of Clever Security Clever Business to rock bottom and we urge every security manager and executive to take a look. 

Only £6.99 for paperback and £1.99 for Kindle on Amazon.

https://amzn.eu/d/0cMJ81tV