The chief technology officer of a Bracknell security firm has been appointed chair of a national group.

Andy Schofield, from Reliance High-Tech, will now head the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) AI and Biometrics Special Interest Group (SIG).

The BSIA, a trade association for the UK's professional security industry, promotes excellence and addresses specific sector issues through its SIGs.

Established in 2020, the AI and Biometrics SIG works to foster customer confidence in the safe, ethical, and effective application of AI and biometrics in security.

Their ultimate aim is to enhance the protection of people, property, and places.

They achieve their objective by developing best-practice guides and standards to ensure the responsible and ethical adoption of AI and biometric technologies by the industry.

The group's industry-first, government-approved legal and ethical recommendations on facial recognition technology informed the creation of the first-ever British Standard code of practice on the subject - Facial recognition technology - Ethical use and deployment in video surveillance-based systems.

The group consists of members 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 between the group and key stakeholders such as academia and government.

In turn, this engagement focuses on the exchange of best practices and addressing the challenges facing the industry, ensuring they stay aligned with developments across both technical and regulatory landscapes.

The group's meetings cover a wide range of topics.

Mr Schofield's first meeting as chair on October 2 covered AI standardisation, the implementation of the AI Act, and a review of the BSIA’s own facial recognition technology legal and ethical guide.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Schofield said: "I am honoured to accept the appointment as chair of the BSIA’s Special Interest Group on AI and Biometrics.

"This group is pivotal in shaping the future of the security industry, as AI and biometrics hold immense potential for advancing security solutions.

"I aim to encourage thoughtful debate, driving innovation while ensuring the highest ethical standards are met.

"By working together, we can ensure the UK leads the way in developing cutting-edge, responsible technologies that set a global standard for security."

Mr Schofield has more than 30 years of experience in the security sector.

He has been a member of the senior management team at Easthampstead Road-based Reliance High-Tech, the UK’s leading independent security technology integrator, since 2014.