Terrorism has put the issue of security high on the agenda in most of the world’s economic centres. Companies supplying civil security solutions are playing a major role in protecting these large metropolitan districts. International electronics and systems group Thales has a major presence in the UK defence, aerospace, services and security markets. But despite the high profile of security issues and the fact that Thales has supplied major security solutions to London Underground, the Port of London and Eurotunnel, the company had remained best known in the UK as a defence contractor.