DASA is launching this competition to, in the longer term, develop a deployable solution to predict and counter future cyber threats. Primarily for defence, this novel solution would be used to reduce the likelihood and impact of cyber threats.

To enable proactive defence in a hostile cyber environment, this competition is looking for novel approaches to cyber security. Ultimately these approaches would predict the most likely offensive cyber events and/or predict optimal defensive cyber actions.

Proposals that focus on theoretical models, lack implementation to real data, ingest social media feeds or other public data of a personal nature are outside the scope of this competition.

Up to £1 million of funding is available in Phase 1 to fund 5 to 10 proof-of-concept research projects of up to six months in duration. Additional funding is anticipated for future phases.

Further details about the competition can be found in the competition document.

This competition is now open and will close at midday on 5 November 2018

If you have any queries on this competition, please do contact us at accelerator@dstl.gov.uk or sign up for alerts.

TechVets, which specialises in helping veterans get jobs in the cyber security and technology sector, will work with the MOD’s flagship training programme for service leavers, under a new agreement signed today.

Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood welcomed the agreement, after the not-for profit group’s co-founder Mark Milton signed the Armed Forces Covenant at the Ministry of Defence’s Headquarters in London.

The technology and cyber security sector is rapidly growing, and while people leaving the armed forces have unique skills and experience which they can contribute in this area. Currently only 4% of veterans are working in tech and cyber, compared to 24% of non-veterans.

The agreement will look to increase the numbers of cyber veterans, by having TechVets work with the MOD’s Career Transition Partnership, which provides service leavers with training and education opportunities whilst transitioning out of the armed forces.

Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood said:

Veterans have unique skills and experiences, gained from their time in the armed forces, which means they contribute a lot to society. It’s fantastic that TechVets will provide opportunities for veterans to apply their considerable talents to the cyber security field, which is playing an increasingly vital role in keeping this country safe.

Co-founder of TechVets Mark Milton said:

We’re delighted to be able to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and strengthen our support for current and former Service personnel and their families. The transferable skills of the veteran community are a real under utilised national resource and have a vital role to play in supporting the security and prosperity of the nation.

The Armed Forces Covenant delivery partners include businesses and trade bodies, charities and community organisations, local authorities and government departments. Signatories tailor their own pledges to support the Armed Forces community and implement these promises through their choice of policies, services, and projects.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly. By signing the Covenant, TechVets joins the ranks of over 2,000 organisations across the UK who have committed to supporting current and ex-Forces personnel, ensuring that they and their families have equal opportunities.

At the signing, TechVets made a number of pledges, including:

• Working with the MOD’s Career Transition Partnership to provide training and employment for veterans in technology and cyber security sectors of the economy

• Supporting their employees’ service as members of the Reserve forces, by accommodating their training and deployment

• Offering flexibility when granting leave for Service spouses and partners before, during and after a partner’s deployment

• Supporting cadet units of the local community and schools

DASA is launching this competition to seek ideas for innovative technologies that can provide an improved way to rapidly detect and locate hazardous biological agents in the field.The ultimate aim is for a fieldable system that would detect and report without users (including trained military specialists and civilian first line responders) coming into close contact with the hazard.

By detecting these hazards as early as possible and remotely, it will enable front line users to safely avoid them.

This competition has an initial budget of £500k for Phase 1. Additional funding is anticipated to be available for future phases of this competition.

This competition is now open and full details are available in the competition document.

The competition will close at 1pm on 7 November 2018

If you have any queries on this competition, please do contact us at accelerator@dstl.gov.uk or sign up for alerts.

Inspector Anne Turner, a training manager in the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) Operational Capability Centre in Scotland, was presented with a Special Recognition Award by the British Association for Women in Policing (BAWP) at their awards ceremony in June. There were 247 nominees for the awards from 34 forces.

Sponsored by Deloitte, Anne’s award category was open to male and female nominees, either within policing or in partnership with the community who have made ‘a significant contribution to gender equality or service to females’.

Anne was nominated for her dedication and commitment to MDP training (and in particular police firearms training) throughout her career, and more specifically for the work she has done to support female officers. Anne has always been viewed as a role model by her female colleagues in the MDP and says that:

Being the first female firearms instructor was a proud achievement for me, and let me show other females they too could push themselves into any career path they wished.

When I was contacted by the BAWP to tell me of my award I was dumbfounded. I never think of myself as doing anything special, I just get on with a job I enjoy and help others where I can. When I heard the stories behind the others who had been nominated for awards I felt privileged to be considered in the same group, but I think all of us felt the same. We were just doing our job and if there is one thing that this award has taught me it is to do just that. Do what you can to support others whenever the chance arises because it’s amazing the difference it can make to everyone, as well as making you feel good about yourself.

The competition is open to all serving police officers from forces across the UK and comprises of 6 strength events in 4 different body weight categories for male and female competitors.

The events for the 2018 competition comprised of a barbell deadlift, log press, keg walk, truck pull, straight arm hold and a medley that involved a farmer’s walk and tyre flips.

Police Constable Claire Stott-Barrett, a police dog handler based at Royal Naval Armaments Depot Coulport, came second overall in her weight class and said:

Everyone at the event was very helpful, friendly and supportive, particularly with regards to teaching techniques to us newbies who were competing for the first time.

Police Constable Josh Haydock who is based at Atomic Weapons Establishment Burghfield won 3 of the 6 events in his weight class and thanked his colleagues for their support and encouragement.

Josh said:

I am regularly asked about training and nutrition and this inspires me to get more people at work into a fit and healthy lifestyle.

Temporary Police Sergeant Mark Bunce from Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston won the deadlift event in his weight category by lifting an impressive 270KG, which was 50KG more than his nearest competitor and was also the second highest lift of the day in all categories.

Mark said:

I have trained as a power lifter for 10 years so when the opportunity to enter an event like this within the police community appeared I relished the thought of putting some of my hard work over the years in the gym to the test.

Commenting on the success of his officers Chief Constable Andy Adams said:

We advertised the Britain’s Strongest Police Officer competition within the Ministry Defence Police earlier this year and I am delighted that Claire, Josh and Mark all decided to enter. They are a credit to the force and we are justifiably proud of their achievements.