The two-day international course called “Technological Innovation in the Policing Field” (Innovación Tecnológica en el Ámbito Policial) was held on 4 and 5 November, organized by the Directorate General of the National Police Force (Dirección General de Policía Nacional) the Directorate General of the Guardia Civil (Dirección General de Guardia Civil) and the Spanish Association of Space, Aeronautics and Defense Technology (Asociación Española de Tecnologías de Defensa, Aeronáutica y Espacio: TEDAE). The event displayed the latest ideas and developments of the industry and security forces of 15 countries in such aspects as facial recognition, accident reconstruction and border surveillance.

The course was inaugurated in the National Police School (Escuela Nacional de Policía) of Ávila by the Director General of Police, Ignacio Cosidó; the subdirector general of support of the Guardia Civil, teniente general Vázquez Jarava; and the President of TEDAE, Adolfo Menéndez.

Alongside the course there was also an exhibition area where Spain’s main firms of the security sector showcased their latest policing technology.

The second day of the course centered on border surveillance and innovation in investigation techniques under the guidance of experts from the Border Surveillance and Anti-Trafficking Department (Jefatura de Fiscal y Fronteras) and the Central Operational Unit (Unidad Central Operativa) of the Guardia Civil, the Operational Border Post Coordination Services and the Central IT Security Brigade of the National Police Force, plus personnel from Europe’s Border Control Agency FRONTEX, GMV, Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and the National Police of Poland. After the speeches a dynamic exhibition of resources was staged, involving various units of the Guardia Civil and National Police Force.

As a key supplier of the Spanish Interior Ministry and a security expert, GMV showcased its Sócrates family of command and control products for security forces, while GMV’s Director of Business Development and Institutional Affairs, José Prieto, presented a paper on Europe’s main border-surveillance challenges.

The course, which was closed by the Director General of the Guardia Civil, Arsenio Fernández de Mesa in Valdemoro’s “Duque de Ahumada” Young Guards’ College, attracted a turnout of over 120 representatives from security corps and forces of 15 countries, plus executives from Europol, FRONTEX, the Spanish Interior Ministry, Interpol, NCA and diverse members of the industry.