In this edition of ‘5 Minutes With’ we speak to Adam Liardet, Managing Director at Audax, a UK-based pioneer in body-worn video technology. Adam shares his perspective on the growing role of body-worn video in protecting staff, the increasing importance of cybersecurity and data sovereignty in security technology, and the broader trends shaping the market in 2026…
Tell us about your company, products and services.
Our mission at Audax is to empower people to feel safer at their places of work. Since 2004, we’ve been the pioneers of body-worn video technology. Our Plymouth UK manufactured safety solutions have protected thousands of individuals and hundreds of organisations in safeguarding and mitigating against risk. We uphold integrity by providing comprehensive evidence, this not only protects against false allegations but also offers individuals, businesses and organisations peace of mind — ensuring their complete security and confidence. Our customers include numerous councils across the UK, emergency service workers, retailers, security companies and police forces around the world.
The first ever conviction in the World, with evidence gathered from a Body Camera, was from an Audax camera. How did Body Worn Video begin!?
Proudly Made in Britain and trusted worldwide. With a relentless focus on quality, innovation, and compliance, we partner with organisations to keep their people safer – wherever they work. Specialising in customer centric solutions, rather than the standard “cookie cutter” approach, you’ll regret not considering us.
What is the biggest opportunity for a company in the Security industry?
We are in an era of Global uncertainty, economic stress and dishonest politics.
People are caring more now about who they work for and who they buy from and organisations that can physically evidence to the world that they are committed to responsible operations will excel.
Organisations which prioritise and care for their employees, the environment, customers and suppliers, whilst also paying their taxes according to the spirit of the law are the ones who add the real social value and are being recognised.
Companies are recognised as having responsible business practices generally over their behaviour in areas such as: Paying a Real living wage, Employment contracts with fairer hours and caring about employee well-being, employee representation, diversity and inclusion, environmental responsibility, paying fair tax, commitment to customers, ethical sourcing, and having a “top to bottom” culture of prompt payment.
If you can’t evidence that you have responsible and ethical business practices, then in a competitive market, standing out as being different or having a USP is always going to be a challenge for some.
What is the biggest priority for the Security industry this year?
Cyber Risk and Compliance is one that we as a UK Manufacturer are thoroughly involved with.
The EU’s EN 18031 and the mandatory cybersecurity requirements under for wirelessly connected products sold in the EU market is one such example. There are numerous “importers” and “rebadgers” of Chinese products that “play lip service” to compliance and often don’t have the certifications needed to quantify their claims. But it’s not just hardware and software, it’s also one of customer awareness.
There are a number of Body Worn Video Suppliers who promote Saas and their cloud solutions. There are also a number who are using as part of their “service”, sub-processors of DATA who are based outside of the UK and EU and thus any GDPR/ DPA compliance issues can come back to the controller – namely You!
As I see it currently, no US owned entity can legally comply with GDPR – not through any fault or omission of their own; but simply because core US law is incompatible with EU (and UK) law on data subject rights. A recent European Parliament report found that U.S. Companies account for 69% of the cloud infrastructure market share in Europe, but under the U.S. Cloud Act, U.S. companies can be forced to hand over data, regardless of where it is stored. Microsoft has openly admitted that US authorities can compel access to data held by American cloud providers, regardless of where that data physically resides. UK or EU servers ( Data Sovereignty) make no difference when jurisdiction lies elsewhere, and local subsidiaries or ‘trusted’ partnerships don’t change that. Control is therefore not with customers or Data controllers, but with U.S. law. Buyer beware.
What are the main trends you are expecting to see in the market this year?
- Responsible sourcing and manufacturing principles.
- Supply chain security ( reducing risk) leading to more “reshoring” and potentially better quality control.
- Trying to find a reliable, sensibly priced, source for Memory / Storage in amongst the current market “gouging” that is going on.
- People actually learning what AI really is, rather than a buzzword and the Ai Ethical and Security risks and the lack of Transparency
What technology is going to have the biggest impact on the market this coming year?
While AI systems excel at specific tasks like data processing and pattern recognition, they remain limited by training data biases, occasional hallucinations, and inability to understand context like humans.
Human intelligence encompasses creativity, emotional depth, ethical judgment, and adaptability—traits that AI has yet to fully replicate.
Next year we’ll all be talking about…?
The Weather – we are creatures of habit.
Next year we’ll all NOT be talking about…?
AI.
You go to the bar at the Total Security Summit – what’s your tipple of choice?
Gin at the start and Port with the Cheese.
What’s the most exciting thing about your job?
Everyday brings something new, either learning (which brings on ideas) or dealing with customers and clients.
Supply chain issues are always exciting and “fighting fires” somewhere in the business (frankly if you don’t have a “fire to fight” somewhere then you ain’t growing and you aren’t in touch with your people and your business).
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Handle stress by thinking like a Dog.
Give us 2 x quotes that resonate with you?
“Leadership can be developed and improved by study and training, but don’t discount experience”.
Gen Omar Bradley, US Army.
“Video evidence is not “just a video”, it’s evidence and should be treated as such”.
Martino Jerian
