03/08-07   -   Press releases

International Training Academy launches CBRN Search course

The Hampshire UK-based International Training Academy is launching its CBRN Search course. This course is designed to support police officers and military personnel who are required to search in criminal or terrorist environments, where there might be hazards from Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear (CBRN) substances.

Recent developments in the use of chemical and biological agents by insurgents in Iraq, along with Al Qaeda’s stated aim of setting off a nuclear device in a major Western city, mean that police and fire services around the world are recognising the need to enhance their skills through gaining specialist CBRN knowledge.

The International Training Academy (www.ita.gb.com) was formed in 2006 with the aim of working with the emergency services and the military to develop and deliver courses that would meet the immediate and future training needs of a variety of frontline operational personnel.

The Academy has devised this multi-agency course in collaboration with its ITA Group sister company; the CBRN Team and it draws on knowledge gained over many years service in the British Armed Forces and references the most up to date intelligence available. The result is a course which is flexible, content-rich and importantly, remains current. It teaches frontline personnel to recognize the various natures of CBRN hazards, how to deal with them once discovered, how to develop procedures to prevent accidental redistribution of these materials during search operations and the importance of preserving evidence.

ITA Group Marketing Director, Dave Hitchins says, “The International Training Academy’s CBRN Search course provides an important source of knowledge for anyone performing frontline search operations, be that terrorist or criminal related."


Notes to Editors:
ITA Group was launched in 2005 initially as ITA Overseas Escorts Ltd, which manages a Home Office Borders and Immigration Agency contract to remove and deport failed asylum seekers and illegal immigrants from the UK. Originally based in Bagshot, Surrey, ITA Group is enjoying a rapid period of growth and has recently moved within the secure military garrison in Aldershot, Hampshire to a larger headquarters building. ITA Group runs a 24-hour operations room supporting some 70 escorting personnel, repatriating people to almost every country on the planet. ITA Overseas Escorts also provides ‘carrier liability’ services to a number of major airlines including Air France, Swiss International, Lufthansa, EasyJet and Ryan Air.

ITA Group also owns ITA Global Services Ltd, under which sit the International Training Academy and ITA’s R&D division, which designs and manufactures vehicle countermeasures systems. These systems are attachable to any vehicle and can be remotely operated to deploy smoke, audio stun devices and CS gas in the event of attack. This system is currently being evaluated by a number of corporate organisations and government services for VIP protection.

ITA’s success means that it is able to be acquisitive where such acquisitions add value to the Group’s security portfolio and has recently invested in Wiltshire-based The CBRN Team Ltd. The CBRN Team delivers training, consultancy and equipment services in the domain of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear warfare.

The Group has recently announced its acquisition of CSG; a covert surveillance and counter surveillance operator.

The Group owns two property development companies, one UK focussed and the other with an international property portfolio.

The Group is also looking at a number of other corporate acquisitions.